Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 168 Something Happened (Double updates will resume tomorrow)

The days passed.

Despite the sweltering heat, Tianxuan City was bustling with activity.

The nearly year-long beast tide has accumulated too many monster resources, attracting trade from major merchant guilds across the seven kingdoms.

Although the beast tide has passed, its aftershocks linger.

There are still quite a few demonic beasts within a hundred miles of Tianxuan City.

Nowadays, many monster-hunting teams are excitedly hunting monsters.

If they don't work hard now, they'll have to go deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains to hunt again in a year or two.

The difficulty will increase several times over, and naturally everyone knows what to do right now.

This has resulted in an extremely abundant supply of demonic beast resources in Tianxuan City.

"The sun is shining brightly today."

Inside the pavilion of the temple, in the sweltering summer heat, the Green Horned Ox lay lazily in the pond, basking in the sun. For the time being, it was finally free from the life-threatening dangers of the day.

Meanwhile, the phoenix was in the pavilion, using its wings to pour tea and water, appearing to be a thoughtful and attentive bird.

Lin Chang'an smiled without saying a word, but he knew what the phoenix was thinking; it was clearly eyeing his spiritual tea.

"If only the Yue Kingdom could remain peaceful like this forever."

Looking at the incomplete array manual in his hand, Lin Chang'an entered a state of enlightenment. The small golden bird, about the size of a palm, on the stone table saw this.

A sly glint appeared in her pale golden eyes as she secretly poured herself a cup of spiritual tea and gulped it down.

Just as the pot of spiritual tea was almost empty, the phoenix bird suddenly remembered something, raised its head, and in the next moment grabbed the teacup and flew towards the green-horned ox.

"Moo!"

The Green Horned Ox, still looking satisfied, was enjoying the food offered by the Phoenix, unaware that the cunning Phoenix had placed the teacup by the pond.

unambiguous evidence.

[Tier 2 Low-Grade Array Master +3 (Entry-level 2/100)]

After a long while, Lin Chang'an finally had a sudden realization about the formation, and his gaze returned to its previous clarity.

"After years of diligent study, I have finally broken through to the second level in the art of formations."

Once this barrier was broken through, many things that were unclear became clear instantly, which made Lin Chang'an unable to help but smile.

"A second-tier array master, although only of low grade, has increased my confidence in exploring cave ruins."

For a rogue cultivator like him, before he was even a hundred years old, his cultivation level had already reached the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, and he was even proficient in three out of the four arts of immortal cultivation.

Second-tier talisman master, alchemist, and array master—all that's missing is weapon crafting.

"If outsiders knew about my talent now, who would dare to underestimate my low-grade spiritual root?"

At this moment, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile. Only he himself knew how difficult it had been to progress with his low-grade spiritual root.

Fortunately, fate is fair; it gave him a low-grade spiritual root and also bestowed upon him extraordinary talent in all the arts of cultivation.

Just then, a communication talisman started flashing.

"Oh, are you in a hurry?"

Looking at the communication talisman that was flashing with spiritual light inside the pavilion, Lin Chang'an revealed a faint smile.

"It's about time."

Inside the pavilion, one, two, three... a dozen or so communication talismans were flashing with spiritual light, clearly indicating that the other side was getting anxious.

……

Inside the West District Market.

The ten Foundation Establishment cultivators who had previously been full of ambition and determined to replace the East District Black Market now all looked extremely grim.

Some people even broke out in a cold sweat, nervously watching the communication talisman they were using to make contact.

Qin Feng, who was leading the group, had bloodshot eyes as he stared intently at the communication talismans.

"Fellow Daoist Yao, didn't we agree that we would pay the breach of contract spirit stones from the East District Market, and all the profits from this transaction would be yours? We even gave you some..."

If you feel the price is unreasonable, I'll give you 10% of the future market profits, but it's been months already. You're either in seclusion, undergoing rigorous training, or you've gained some profound insights—it's like this every day!

Qin Feng's hoarse voice echoed, but one, two, three, and a dozen all disappeared without a trace, leaving no trace.

In the end, they only managed to contact two people, and they did manage to make the transaction honestly, but for them, it was just a drop in the ocean.

This left them all dumbfounded.

"hateful!"

"I told you this was extremely risky."

"Damn it, these cowardly cowards!"

Just as everyone was cursing, the sound transmission talisman in front of Qin Feng suddenly responded, and everyone immediately showed a look of anticipation.

They've truly staked everything on this; if the worst happens, they'll lose everything.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, after much consideration, we still feel that the risks in your West District Market are too great. Let's stop trading these goods."

"Please, Fellow Daoist Qin, for the sake of our friendship, do not tell the people in the Eastern District Market. I fear the fellow Daoists there might misunderstand..."

The sound abruptly stopped, and Qin Feng's eyes instantly filled with bloodshot veins, brimming with a murderous intent.

Damn it, these faithless bastards.

At the same time, the other communication talismans also received responses.

"Fellow Daoist, it's best not to contact each other again in the future, I'm afraid the East District Market will misunderstand."

"I am very grateful for your generous gift, which I will always remember."

"Fellow Daoist, I am preparing to go into seclusion to break through to a higher level. I estimate that I will not be able to emerge from seclusion for three to five years."

"Damn it, are you setting me up? I was being watched on my way here. You black market bastards, I'm never coming here again."

"Haha, thank you so much for your generosity, fellow Daoists from Yue Kingdom. I am preparing to return to Dongyu Kingdom. I hope to see you again in the future..."

Goodness, the replies from the communication talismans were incredibly varied.

They had all sorts of reasons, but they never mentioned the goods being traded.

Even the deposits and the gifts they gave to people they recruited were described as generous gifts for making friends.

"Ah! Ah..."

The next moment, Qin Feng's man-eating roar came from inside the room. Some of the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were pale, without a trace of color, and looked utterly lost.

Some people had bloodshot eyes and started cursing angrily.

In an instant, all ten Foundation Establishment cultivators who had been standing high and mighty outside were breached.

"Damn it! These despicable and shameless scoundrels."

"Damn it, there are two more people. These two must be accomplices. If we catch these two, we can find out about the others."

Everyone's eyes turned red, because they had staked everything they had on this.

As a result, all the cultivators who provided the high-level materials disappeared. They had also delivered a considerable amount of materials in advance, as well as the gifts they had previously offered to win them over.

Although there is still a batch of materials in the market, they are waiting to be traded when the final delivery is made.

But what good are these!

The deadline for the Chamber of Commerce to deliver the goods is fast approaching; what will they use to plug this hole?

The loss is not just of this transaction, but also of the future of the market.

In the black market, reputation is paramount; once you lose your reputation, you're finished.

……

Just as Lin Chang'an was leisurely fishing in the pavilion after burning the dozen or so communication talismans of different identities, he was suddenly interrupted by a sudden call from someone: "Old Lin, something's happened."

Just then, Old Hu shouted that something had happened, but his face was flushed and he walked in excitedly.

Without giving Lin Chang'an a chance to ask any questions, Old Hu excitedly laughed loudly:

"Old Lin, you don't know, this Qin guy in the West District has been tricked by cultivators from some country. Ten Foundation Establishment cultivators are actually planning to capture two Foundation Establishment rogue cultivators in Tianxuan City."

When pressed to reveal the whereabouts of their other companions, these two rogue cultivators, being hot-blooded individuals, fought back fiercely. The ensuing battle even alerted the Immortal City patrol. Guess what happened in the end?

Seeing Old Hu's excited laughter scare away all the spirit fish in the pond, Lin Chang'an smiled and put away his fishing rod, teasingly saying:
"So, Lao Hu, what happened next?"

Faced with Lin Chang'an's question, Old Hu blushed and excitedly slapped his thigh, laughing loudly:
"As a result, both sides had their own version of events, and only after comparing them did they discover that this Qin and his group of Foundation Establishment cultivators had been secretly poaching people, and they had been set up."

The identities of these two rogue cultivators were also exposed. Enraged, they cursed the untrustworthy and despicable people, adding that these two were cultivators from other countries...

As Lao Hu narrated with a hearty laugh, the two rogue cultivators were severely injured, their identities exposed, and in their enrage, they became enemies.

More importantly, after this news broke, merchants and cultivators in Tianxuan City all avoided it like the plague.

The black market, with its many shady dealings, places even greater emphasis on integrity.

If you were set up in the West District black market, you can only accept your bad luck and deserve it, but you still managed to make a big fuss about it.

"Now, not only are the merchants who previously traded with the West District coming to buy goods, but more importantly, I, Old Hu, have personally taken a look. Tsk tsk, there isn't even a single cultivator at the early stage of Qi Refining in the entire market."

Empty!
A black market that can't even provide trust and a sense of security, who would want to go there?

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an smiled.

"That's truly a case of reaping what you sow."

"Who says otherwise? When I, Lao Hu, went over there, the guy surnamed Qin's eyes turned red. He pointed at me angrily and asked if we had set a trap for them together."

"Pah! If they hadn't come here to poach our people, would he have fallen for this trap? He deserved it."

Old Hu grumbled and cursed, feeling that the man surnamed Qin was simply unlucky.

We bumped into each other.

After all, the turmoil in Tianxuan City over the past two years has attracted many cultivators from the seven kingdoms.

These outside cultivators, along with some who had undergone tribulations, used all sorts of tricks and schemes to deceive people, making them impossible to guard against.

This is the first time I've heard of someone capable of pulling off something this big, ripping off an entire black market.

Usually, it involves tricking acquaintances or becoming a karmic thief for them.

That's the high-end kind—setting up a trap and pulling off a brutal attack.

"There have been too many things like this lately. I heard that there was even a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator who finally managed to gather enough Foundation Establishment materials to hire someone to refine pills, but the alchemist took the materials and disappeared the next day."

The other person wasn't a cultivator from the Yue Kingdom to begin with, leaving the cultivator filled with regret. However, a subsequent investigation revealed that his companion, who had worked with him on refining the Foundation Establishment Pill, had been taking kickbacks and was an accomplice.

Hearing Lao Hu's words, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but let out a long sigh.

"In chaotic times, friendship becomes the least valuable thing."

Upon hearing this, Old Hu felt a deep sense of empathy, and the smile on his face gradually faded. Finally, he shook his head and said:

"But it is precisely because of affection that it is the most precious thing."

The Yue Kingdom was in turmoil, and all sorts of monsters and demons emerged.

Being tricked after setting a trap is all too common in the world of cultivation.

There are only a few black markets in Tianxuan City, and the fact that the black market in the western district was set up has attracted a lot of attention.

However, following this incident, many cultivators in Tianxuan City became even more wary.

……

"Damn it, even the people in the black market got tricked. We ordinary cultivators have to be careful."

"Sigh, when will this world ever end?"

"Come on, you're only at the seventh level of Qi Refining. Do you think they'd be blind enough to set up a trap just to swindle a few spirit stones from your storage bag?"

"Let's be careful."

Qin Feng's black market in the West District, while creating quite a stir, also served as a warning to countless independent cultivators.

Other black markets have also secretly increased their vigilance to avoid being set up by outsiders.

After all, these people are like that; they take the bait and run, and you can't find them anywhere.

The black market in the East District.

On the top floor of the attic, Lin Chang'an, Yun Yao, Lao Gui, He Yan, Lao Jia, and Lao Hu, the six of them, also gathered together because of this incident.

"Gentlemen, let's just set up a black market in a down-to-earth manner. In the future, for any major trade dealings between chambers of commerce, we will prepare the necessary materials in advance."

"Indeed, I suspect this chamber of commerce is playing a dishonest role behind the scenes."

Old Jia, who was rather cautious, couldn't help but feel a little scared. Fortunately, the other party had contacted the black market in the West District.

Old Hu naturally saw Old Jia's worry and waved his hand with a smile, saying:
"Old Jia, these cultivators who set this up are all incredibly cunning. They're clearly targeting the West District's eagerness to turn things around. If they weren't so greedy, they wouldn't have been tricked."

Lin Chang'an smiled and shook his head; almost no one suspected him.

After all, to orchestrate such a large-scale scheme, with nearly twenty second-tier skill cultivators working together, is not something an ordinary force could set up.

This incident has even heightened the vigilance of the entire Tianxuan City.

Just as everyone was taking this matter seriously, a group of Foundation Establishment cultivators suddenly came from outside the market to request an audience.

Leading the group was Qin Feng, who arrived here with a grim expression.

"Looks like someone can't hold back any longer."

As Lao Hu sneered, everyone else's faces also revealed a cold glint.

Lin Chang'an and Yun Yao, who were in the lead, exchanged a glance and then had someone lead them in.

Immediately afterwards, Qin Feng and the other nine Foundation Establishment cultivators walked in.

"Oh, isn't this Patriarch Qin? I remember him being all high and mighty not long ago."

As soon as they met, Lao Hu immediately launched into a sarcastic remark, as he is known for his vengeful nature.

Lin Chang'an and the others simply smiled indifferently, making no attempt to stop Lao Hu's attitude.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, what brings you here? Has the matter in your market been resolved?"

Although the opponent had ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, cultivators compete based on strength, not quantity.

Just the presence of Yun Yao, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator radiating a powerful aura, was enough to intimidate the entire scene.

Qin Feng's face was grim, but he knew this was not the time for a fight of pride; the key now was to salvage the market.

As long as we can salvage the market's business, we can slowly earn spirit stones.

Otherwise, they would all lose money.

"Fellow Daoist is too kind. Being framed by others this time is truly shameful."

Qin Feng suppressed his anger, his face revealing an extremely sincere expression of sorrow.

The next moment, to everyone's astonishment, tears streamed down his face without warning.

A dignified Foundation Establishment cultivator over a hundred years old, who was also the head of a family, suddenly started crying right there in front of them.

"Fellow Daoists, we are truly at our wits' end. Right now, in the entire Tianxuan City, only Fellow Daoists Lin and Yun have such abilities."

We earnestly request that fellow Daoists lend us some resources and spirit stones to help us through this difficult time. From now on, our West District Market will take precedence over the East District Market.

Qin Feng, tears streaming down his face, lowered his head in grief.

　Fellow cultivators, I will resume two updates tomorrow. Thank you for your support.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)