Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 165 Being Watched [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Lihuo Peak.

"Greetings, Senior Song."

Since the celebration banquet for the formation of the core ended, when they met again, Lin Chang'an was filled with envy as he saw that Song Tingfeng was now a pseudo-core cultivator.

Don't say that fake pills and real pills are worlds apart.

If you can't even prove the authenticity of a fake elixir, then everything you say is in vain.

A False Core cultivator may not be as strong as a True Core cultivator, but they are far superior to a Foundation Establishment cultivator, not to mention they have a lifespan of at least 500 years.

Given enough good fortune, it's not impossible to transform one's elixir and rebuild one's cultivation.

The cultivation world is filled with countless treasures.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, we have known each other for many years, why be so distant? Let's address each other as fellow Daoist."

Despite the regret of not forming a true core, Song Tingfeng's spirited smile revealed that he had already gained a lot compared to the failure.

Seeing Song Tingfeng's genuine expression, Lin Chang'an didn't dare to be presumptuous and respectfully cupped his hands, saying:

"Brother Song, this is the market's revenue over this period, as well as the one thousand mid-grade spirit stones I borrowed from you before."

As Lin Chang'an raised his hand, two storage bags floated up, delivering a portion of the profits from the black market during this period.

At the same time, he kept his own business and the market very separate.

"This is!"

However, upon seeing the storage bag containing the spirit stones, Song Tingfeng was taken aback, then smiled at Lin Chang'an.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you're being too polite."

This spirit stone bag doesn't contain a thousand mid-grade spirit stones, but more than three thousand.

It has more than tripled.

Lin Chang'an smiled and cupped his hands, saying, "Brother Song, I said I wouldn't lend these spirit stones for nothing. If the deal goes through, the profits will naturally be split equally."

Song Tingfeng was delighted by Lin Chang'an's attitude and laughed as he invited him to drink and chat in the dojo.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, you are still as cautious as ever. However, I will accept these spirit stones. In the future, let's not be so distant with each other."

It would be a lie to say I'm not happy about making so many mid-grade spirit stones out of nowhere.

Especially when Lin Chang'an asked him for money, Song Tingfeng couldn't help but nod when he recalled it.

Although this fellow Daoist Lin was a bit cautious in his actions, it must be said that he didn't have such great ambitions; he just wanted to cultivate diligently and practically.

Otherwise, they wouldn't have wanted to gamble on the future of Tianxuan City.

This one action won them their favor.

He only made it as a joke at the time, but he never expected that the other party would actually pay him back with interest.

The profits from the black market are self-evident; Wu Yan, Su Miaoyin, and Song Tingfeng all have a share.

Even if he wasn't there, Lin Chang'an would still escort him to the outside of the other person's cave.

Lin Chang'an was also full of envy. As the saying goes, "The accomplished are my teachers." During their conversation, Lin Chang'an discovered that this Fellow Daoist Song hadn't changed much.

He even took the initiative to share his experience in forming the Golden Core, which made Lin Chang'an secretly grateful, as not a single spirit stone he had spent over the years had been wasted.

This experience in forming the Golden Core is priceless and unavailable.

As a rogue cultivator, he had no one to talk to.

"Brother Lin, I can see from you over the years that you are a person who has worked hard to cultivate. Listen to my advice: if you can form a false core, never expect a true core."

"It's because I'm decisive and not greedy that I've achieved what I have today. So what if it's a fake elixir? My current strength and lifespan are enough for me to continue planning and moving forward, but if you fail..."

At this point, Song Tingfeng shook his head and said sarcastically:

"There are too many greedy cultivators in the cultivation world. They fail to form a true core, and when they try to form a false core, they find that they have already consumed most of their energy and can only fail in the end."

But once the Core Formation attempt fails, a Foundation Establishment cultivator still has strength and lifespan; how difficult it is to attempt Core Formation again…”

Hearing Song Tingfeng's honest reminder, Lin Chang'an was also very grateful. This Song Daoist is a good friend indeed.

From the moment we met, he has always been a good person.

"Thank you for your guidance, Senior Brother Song."

"You must understand, what ability does a mere Foundation Establishment cultivator have to come into contact with spiritual items that can enhance spiritual root aptitude or improve the quality of a Golden Core?"

Song Tingfeng's meaningful gaze was practically saying, "So what if I become a pseudo-core cultivator?"

He still has many options ahead, but if he fails to form his core, there will be no second chance.

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly and memorized all the experience of forming the core.

However, next, this senior brother Song relapsed into his old habit, and before he knew it, he had excitedly shifted his focus to formations.

Although he was already a pseudo-core cultivator, he had been practicing array formations for so many years, but he was still only at the first-tier high-grade level, without making any progress.

Over the years, Lin Chang'an had come to know that this Senior Brother Song was probably truly dedicated to the art of formations.

The claim that he wanted to learn formations in order to win over his senior sister seems to be a cover-up for his lack of talent in formations.

Just like a terrible chess player, he may be bad at chess, but that doesn't affect his love and dedication to formations.

Lin Chang'an's array formations have almost reached the second level in recent years, making the two evenly matched and like two equally talented individuals.

At the same time, Lin Chang'an also received a lot of hard-to-reach information, such as that this Senior Brother Song would also be going to the front line in a while, and that Senior Brother Wu Yan would be coming back to rest.

……

Tianxuan City, West City Black Market.

There were quite a few cultivators in the black market, but the four Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Qin family all looked worried.

“Patriarch, our market lacks resources to attract advanced cultivators. Relying solely on the second-tier talismans of our Qin family is simply not enough.”

The Qin family is also renowned for its talismans, but these skills are easy to learn but difficult to master. The Qin family has the inherited skills, but currently only has one second-tier talisman master within the clan.
Although it's not bad, it's a drop in the ocean for such a large market.

"Damn it! Why are these high-level talisman masters and alchemists unwilling to come to our market?"

Outsiders call it the black market, but locals still refer to it as the market.

At this moment, the black market that Qin Feng had painstakingly built up was just a bunch of cultivators around the mid-stage of Qi Refining wandering around.

There are very few cultivators at the late stage of Qi Refining, which is different from when he went to the East District Black Market, where there were many advanced cultivators and often three or five Foundation Establishment cultivators trading there.

The two are not even in the same league.

However, in terms of investment, one was before the turmoil and the other was after the stabilization. It can be said that the Qin family's investment was ten times that of the other.

“Patriarch, we’ve invested most of our family’s assets in this market. We also have second-tier formations and even ten Foundation Establishment cultivators. What we lack now is high-grade resources.”

The two elders of the Qin family sighed helplessly. Although the Qin family was good and had high-grade resources, how many days could this last?

Only through give and take can things last. If you only sell and never buy back, it's like throwing meat buns to a dog—gone and never to return.

"High-grade resources!"

At this moment, Qin Feng, who bore the weight of his family's rise and fall, had a solemn expression on his face.

"Everyone, our Qin family has already lost its assets. If this market fails again, our Qin family will never recover. For the sake of the Qin family's future..."

"We should visit other high-level cultivators, and if that doesn't work, we can offer them substantial rewards. Let's get the market up and running first, and things will improve later."

Just as the four Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Qin family were discussing their matter, the other six rogue cultivators outside arrived one after another.

But they all looked worried.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, the profits from this market are not good."

"Yes, we've all staked most of our fortunes on this."

"Alright, didn't Fellow Daoist Qin already stake most of his fortune?"

"That's right. When we were running this black market, we all talked about it. Now that we're in a crisis, we're all in the same boat. Let's stop complaining. Otherwise, we might as well break up as soon as possible."

"That's right. The most important thing right now is to quickly build up connections and find high-quality resources before we can get the market up and running."

Those who can become Foundation Establishment cultivators are not fools. They may complain, but they are all in the same boat. If something really happens, no one can escape.

"Fellow Daoists, our current priority is to invite skilled cultivators, especially those specializing in second-tier pills and talismans... These are the kinds of skills that can attract late-stage Qi Refining cultivators and even Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Sigh, it's not easy to recruit cultivators with second-tier skills in Tianxuan City." Anyone with second-tier skills has already used their abilities to build connections, so there aren't many left.

If you want to poach them, you'll have to offer huge profits.

At this moment, Qin Feng pondered for a moment, as if he had thought of something, and said in a deep voice:
"Fellow Daoists, as far as I know, there are still some skilled cultivators in Tianxuan City who are unwilling to reveal their identities for fear of being wanted. Most of these cultivators sell materials on the black market."

When Qin Feng brought up this matter, everyone frowned.

“Fellow Daoist Qin, everyone knows this, but these kinds of cultivators are the most cautious. Once they get used to staying in one place, they will never easily change places.”

"Then let's offer huge profits!"

Under Qin Feng's unwavering gaze, the ten people discussed the matter and decided to invest most of their savings.

If they were to sit idly by and watch the market close down, most of them would be left penniless.

Therefore, with a heavy heart, they had no choice but to take out another portion of spirit stones and materials to lure these cultivators over.

"That guy surnamed Lin! And that guy surnamed Hu, they just relied on speculation and profiteering to gain a foothold. The black market in the East District is the most active."

"Poaching people from someone else's black market, wouldn't that offend people?"

"I think Fellow Daoist Qin is right. Since we've already opened the market, we've offended them long ago, so what are we afraid of?"

"A soft heart leads to poverty, while a ruthless heart brings wealth. If we don't do this, where will we find these cowardly cultivators?"

Even the two elders of the Qin family, as well as the newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivator, were secretly pondering.

The investment is getting bigger and bigger, but we can't stop now.

Once things stop, the Qin family will lose most of their wealth, and all their previous investments will be wasted.

……

Inside the cave.

The Yellow Dragon Bell shimmered with powerful energy, its golden light flashing, forming an extremely strong defense.

In particular, within the golden bell's illusory form, a golden dragon appears to be circling and swimming, greatly enhancing the Yellow Dragon Bell's defense and giving it the effect of suppressing and trapping enemies.

On the other side, the Azure Scale Sword, gleaming with a bluish light, transformed its sharp blade into a three-zhang-long azure python, which opened its blood-red maw and launched a surprise attack.

"The Yellow Dragon Bell and the Azure Scale Sword are indeed top-grade spiritual weapons."

As Lin Chang'an slowly put away the two top-grade spiritual artifacts, he couldn't help but reveal a satisfied smile.

"It is said that the magic weapons of Golden Core cultivators will give birth to a spirit after a long period of nurturing. There is also another method, which is to use the essence of a demon beast to imprison and refine the magic weapon to give birth to a spirit and enhance its power."

This top-grade spiritual artifact was crafted using this method, but unfortunately, the essence of ordinary second-tier demonic beasts simply cannot withstand the tempering process.

Obtaining the essence of a near-third-tier demon beast is incredibly difficult.

Even in Tianxuan City, which had experienced the beast tide disaster, there were still quite a few near-third-tier monster materials on the market.

However, not a single essence of the near-third-tier demonic beast leaked out.

"A top-grade spiritual artifact. It can withstand some of the power of a magic weapon, but unfortunately it's priceless and unavailable."

Lin Chang'an shook his head; he couldn't buy this thing even if he wanted to.

I had mentioned this matter to this Senior Brother Song before, but this fake Core Formation Master Senior Brother Song always looked helpless.

It's not a matter of how many spirit stones to add, but rather that there are only a handful of cultivators in Tianxuan City who possess this skill.

He's currently busy crafting magical artifacts for him and Senior Sister Su, so he won't be able to spare any time for at least several decades.

The few top-grade magical artifacts in stock are also to be used to win over or reward subordinates.

Therefore, after hearing about it, Lin Chang'an kept quiet about the matter.

"However, my offense and defense are not bad. Even ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators may not have a top-grade spiritual weapon."

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly. He had been thinking about whether he would have a chance to get a top-grade spiritual weapon like a flying needle, but it seemed that the opportunity was gone.

"I should focus on cultivation. My alchemy skills have improved quite a bit recently."

[Second-Tier Mid-Grade Alchemist (Proficiency 607/1000)]

Looking at his skills in alchemy, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but nod in satisfaction.

"In about six or seven years, alchemists' skills may break through to the top grade."

[Tier 1 High-Grade Array Master (Grandmaster 4996/5000)]

"And with the formation technique, breaking through to the second tier is just around the corner."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered, and he then put the pills he had refined in the cave into his storage bag.

"Recently, the trade between the seven kingdoms has been booming in Tianxuan City. Let's see if there's any chance to collect some rare array information."

After all, improving one's array formation skills will be extremely helpful for future explorations of cave ruins.

More importantly, he was well-versed in the various arts of cultivating immortality and knew the importance and urgency of things.

The cave ruins are still hanging in the air; they may not fall into our hands.

Therefore, he never let it affect his cultivation, since strength is the most important thing.

He then put the Phoenix Bird and the Green Horned Ox into his spirit beast bag and left the cave.

Within the bustling city of Tianxuan, he secretly disguised himself and used the Bloodthirsty Poison Vine ability to impersonate another Yao Lao.

The aura was completely different; even a demonic beast couldn't detect anything.

……

East District Market (Black Market).

"It's a late-stage Tier 1 demon beast resource. Fellow cultivators who are interested can come and take a look."

"The incomplete materials from a second-tier demon beast are definitely worth the price."

"A magical artifact, a damaged magical artifact. Fellow Daoists, you can take it back and repair it..."

On the bustling black market street, the cultivators who set up stalls on both sides concealed their faces, but in the eyes of Lin Chang'an, a cultivator with late-stage Foundation Establishment divine sense.

The cultivation levels of these people were on full display.

Almost all of them were advanced cultivators in the late stage of Qi Refining, and occasionally there were even cultivators in the early stage of Foundation Establishment purchasing materials.

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly at this scene.

“These Foundation Establishment cultivators who are unwilling to reveal their identities will not easily go to other places once they get used to a black market.”

This is also the most important point about opening a black market: to provide a safe environment for cultivators who come here.

Over time, people have become accustomed to this safe sales channel, and who would easily risk changing locations?

“Your spiritual herb is quite good; it should be unique to the Jiang Kingdom. How about I exchange it for this pill?”

"Pills to enhance cultivation, excellent! Fellow Daoist, I have other good things here."

One of the stall owners, after examining the pill, immediately changed his expression, suppressed his joy, and secretly began to transmit his voice.

Elixirs that enhance cultivation are a form of hard currency.

It is extremely popular among monks.

Especially for cultivators like him who are in the late stage of Qi Refining, high-level (second-tier) pills are highly sought after.

Any improvement in one's cultivation level, however small, will increase the chances of reaching the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Fellow Daoist, this is not enough."

Under the guise of a herbalist, Lin Chang'an calmly explained that he sold about 70-80% of his pills directly to the black market each month.

The rest will be exchanged on the black market for alchemy or other necessary resources.

"Fellow Daoist, I still have these... these are enough, right?"

Lin Chang'an, disguised as the old apothecary, nodded in satisfaction, exchanged two pills with the other party to enhance his cultivation, and then left.

However, just as Lin Chang'an was secretly making purchases, he suddenly frowned.

"We've been targeted!?"

　Thank you all for your support. I'm asking for your monthly votes. We're just 30 places away from making it into the monthly vote rankings.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)