Chapter 96: Huang Shaohai's Strange Movements
【Lifespan: 57/208】
【Realm: Early-stage Foundation Establishment (10/100)】
Inside the cave abode, Lin Changan sat cross-legged in front of the alchemy furnace, his expression somewhat grave.
“With the resources I have now, it already far surpasses those of ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, yet my cultivation is still progressing slowly. This past year only yielded four points of experience. To break through to mid-stage Foundation Establishment, I’d be nearly in my twilight years.”
The limitations of his spirit root left him feeling helpless. This was also the key reason why rogue cultivators rarely succeeded.
Anyone with good spirit roots would usually be recruited by major sects or clans.
“Only reaching mid-stage Foundation Establishment by the age of eighty... then when would I reach the later stage? As for Golden Core, that might be a lifelong impossibility.”
Lin Changan shook his head. If he had neither awakened his innate talent nor obtained that ancient opportunity, perhaps he would have resigned himself to fate.
But now, with both talent and opportunity in hand—were they not given to him for a reason?
“Alchemy must be pushed forward on schedule. I must break through to second-rank as soon as possible. I can't delay cultivation any further.”
Just then, the alchemy furnace before him flickered with spiritual light, drawing Lin Changan’s attention back.
“The pills are ready.”
As the lid of the furnace opened, more than ten glowing pills drifted out, and a satisfied smile appeared on Lin Changan’s face.
“Fortunately, Tianxuan City borders the Cloudmist Mountain Range, so there's no shortage of spirit herbs and spirit fruits.”
【First-rank Alchemist (Grandmaster 1962/5000)】
He was already used to refining premium-grade first-rank pills. Raising his hand, Lin Changan stored the floating spirit pills into a jade bottle.
Before him, many jars and bottles were already filled with pills.
“This should be enough. Before the third auction begins, I’ll clear out this inventory and then purchase more alchemy herbs.”
Lin Changan slowly stood up and began placing bottle after bottle of pills into his storage pouch.
Before leaving the alchemy room, he habitually cleansed his body of the lingering medicinal scent.
“There are also these second-rank talismans.”
On the table in the cave abode, thick stacks of talismans were casually swept into his storage pouch by Lin Changan.
First-rank pills were merely for practice and held no value for him personally.
Second-rank talismans were his true means of accumulating wealth.
As he exited the cave abode, Lin Changan habitually placed the Azure-Horned Bull into the Spirit Beast Pouch.
After all, when traveling outside, it was always safer to have a battle-boosting spirit pet by one’s side.
...
Under the night sky, Tianxuan City blazed with lights.
Lin Changan had not attended the second auction. In any case, he no longer had many Spirit Stones in his storage pouch.
Now that the third auction was approaching, Tianxuan City was bustling more than ever.
Walking along the streets, he passed stalls everywhere, with cultivators hawking their wares and searching for desired treasures.
Disguised as an elderly man, Lin Changan made his way to the Gathering Immortals Tower.
“Shopkeeper Shen, this old man has come from the Liang Kingdom. I heard you're buying pills here, and I happen to have some.”
When Shen Lie saw these premium-grade first-rank pills, his eyes lit up and he clasped his hands with a broad smile.
“Senior, rest assured, my prices are absolutely fair.”
The disguised Lin Changan felt amused, but since he was selling pills anyway, it didn’t matter who the buyer was.
After all, part of the Gathering Immortals Tower still belonged to him.
He could also help out his friends in the process.
More importantly, he knew the inside workings of this Gathering Immortals Tower—it certainly didn’t have any powerful Foundation Establishment cultivators, so he had no fear of his identity being exposed.
Faced with Shen Lie’s enthusiasm, Lin Changan, posing as the old man, maintained a calm expression, clearly looking like someone who would leave right after the transaction.
Shen Lie didn’t mind at all. Grinning from ear to ear, he bought up the pills. He could make a profit through his channels easily.
Soon, the disguised Lin Changan disappeared into the crowd, changing his appearance and concealing his aura.
Using different disguises, he visited the Zhou Clan’s shop and the shop managed by Second Bull.
One visit was to be cautious, knowing no one could see through his identity, and the other was to indirectly support his friends.
However, most of the second-rank talismans were still traded at the marketplace, either bartered for goods or exchanged with cultivators clearly from foreign lands.
Pills and talismans—these were the greatest consumables for cultivators, far easier to sell than magic tools.
“This kind of opportunity doesn’t come often.”
Two hours later, Lin Changan walked out of the alley, beaming after almost completely selling off his stock.
Over the past half year, due to the auction in Tianxuan City, there had been an influx of cultivators from foreign lands—especially Foundation Establishment cultivators.
That was why his talismans had been selling so well.
“This is a premium-grade second-rank Flight Talisman. Even without relying on magic tools, Foundation Establishment cultivators like us can fly through the air with it.”
“Tch, why not mention how much spiritual power this Flight Talisman consumes? And it’s so expensive.”
In the trading area of the marketplace, Lin Changan glanced at the lively street and couldn’t help but smile.
The flow of people had brought together many cultivators from distant lands, and indeed, there were a lot of rare materials to be found.
“These past few days have certainly been eye-opening.”
As Lin Changan marveled at the bustling prosperity of Tianxuan City and the strange items he had seen, he was just about to return to his abode when his heart suddenly skipped a beat—he seemed to have sensed something.
“This is... Huang Shaohai’s spiritual aura.”
With his powerful perception, that familiar sensation made Lin Changan frown inwardly. Yet he pretended to stroll casually while secretly staying alert.
A stranger wearing a bamboo hat and dressed in the attire of the Wind Capital Kingdom was picking and choosing among stalls, then, seemingly disappointed at finding nothing, turned to head back to the abode.
“Why is Huang Shaohai disguised as a cultivator from the Wind Capital Kingdom?”
In the crowd, Lin Changan furrowed his brows in secret. Logically speaking, given the backing of the Huang Clan of the Palace of Blazing Fire, why would he need a disguise to come to the marketplace?
Moreover, Huang Shaohai’s spiritual aura was unstable—his injuries clearly hadn’t healed. Why was he even out here?
Even more suspiciously, his direction was toward the Foundation Establishment cultivator abodes near Tianxuan City.
It was known that Tianxuan City was jointly governed by three factions. The spiritual vein cave abodes were divided: the eastern side belonged to the Palace of Blazing Fire, the western side to the Pavilion of Mystic Sound, and the central area near the waterfall was naturally the territory of Tianxuan City’s own faction.
That area was also known as Tianxuan Peak.
It happened to be along the way back to Lin Changan’s abode, and there were many cultivators on the road, so Lin Changan’s expression remained calm as he did not alter his path.
“Since it’s on the way to my own abode anyway, I might as well follow and see.”
With his supreme-grade Breath Concealment Technique, and the bonus effect granted by the ancient wood-type technique he cultivated, Lin Changan decided to tail Huang Shaohai.
After all, with two top-grade magic tools on him, and a second-rank Azure-Horned Bull spirit pet, he didn’t believe he was weaker than the other party.
Especially since the opponent’s spiritual aura was unstable and he was still injured.
However, after following him for some time and seeing the disguised Huang Shaohai actually return to a cave abode in the Tianxuan Peak area, Lin Changan’s expression grew even stranger.
“What exactly is Huang Shaohai doing? Could he really be just wandering around?”
He didn’t believe it was that simple.
As a disciple of the Palace of Blazing Fire, to disguise himself as a cultivator from the Wind Capital Kingdom and even rent a cave abode here—something was definitely off.
“No—this is!”
Just as Lin Changan pretended to pass by like another cultivator returning to his cave abode, his pupils suddenly shrank.
With his Spirit Eye activated, he clearly saw something buried in the dirt ahead.
“That’s a formation plate!”
Huang Shaohai had just passed by that spot earlier and paused to admire the scenery.
At this moment, Lin Changan seemed to have uncovered something.
Burying formation plates in Tianxuan City—he didn’t need to think twice to know who the target was.
Driven by the principle that as long as the other party suffered, he’d feel better, he immediately turned around and left.
Then, back in the marketplace, he once again disguised himself and changed identities, retracing the places Huang Shaohai had passed earlier.
The difference was that Lin Changan used several different disguises this time to collect all the formation plates buried in the ground—each one made of exceptional material.
As he looked over them, Lin Changan wore a broad smile. He had profited. Just these formation plates alone had made up for his previous losses.