Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 169 Rebellion
"Fellow Daoist, we are willing to sign a spiritual contract. The resources we borrowed today will be repaid with interest in the future!"

Finally, Qin Feng made a solemn statement, and the other nine Foundation Establishment cultivators also spoke up with expressions of distress.

After all that, it turns out they came to borrow spirit stones and resources to get through this difficult time.

"Brother Lin, is this Qin guy out of his mind? He's actually thinking about such a good thing!"

Old Hu secretly transmitted his voice, and the six of them weren't stupid either.

Help your rival overcome their difficulties?
Lin Chang'an, the mastermind behind it all, sneered inwardly.

They've only reaped what they sowed.

However, if they manage to get through this hurdle, they might actually be able to turn the tide by leveraging this reputation.

After all, the fact that they could honestly hand over materials even when they were being set up in a conspiracy naturally attracts many people.

"Fellow Daoist Qin, it's not that we don't want to help, but as you know from your previous visit to our market, we also have some major trade dealings with these chambers of commerce."

"Where would we find so many resources? Besides, with such a major incident, we are proceeding with extreme caution."

Lin Chang'an's seemingly calm response was, in fact, a veiled sarcasm at the other party's despicable actions.

Lao Hu and the others nodded in response.

"That's right, these people had ulterior motives before, and we suffered considerable losses as a result."

"Fellow Daoists, why don't you try asking other markets?"

Even Yun Yao said coldly, "We have no friendship with any of you. In fact, you have secretly come to our market to poach people. I don't need to tell you the specifics, do I?"

After Yun Yao, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, spoke coldly, her cold eyes swept over everyone, as if to say that what you did behind the scenes has already been exposed by this group of people.

At this point, it's already good enough that they didn't kick us when we were down; why would we want to ask them for help?
How can it be!

"Fellow!"

Qin Feng and his group looked extremely grim. Few could bear such a loss, especially since they had now lost all their savings.

They were all desperate criminals walking on the edge of a cliff.

One of the Foundation Establishment cultivators, his eyes bloodshot, said fiercely, "Patriarch Qin, if you ask me, since they don't want us to have an easy time, then they shouldn't expect to have an easy time either."

"Yes, maybe these people are behind this scheme. Otherwise, how could there be such a coincidence?"

Their eyes were bloodshot and they looked furious, clearly driven to the brink of despair.

However, even Lao Jia revealed a hint of murderous intent when faced with such a threat.

Old Hu cursed loudly, "You surnamed Qin, I knew you weren't here today for anything good! You're trying to extort me, aren't you!"

"Old Hu should thank you. This group of people were clearly targeting us. Who would have thought that you had ulterior motives and were greedy enough to poach our people? In the end, you reaped what you sowed."

Old Hu's words, though crude, were true. After this incident, many people in Tianxuan City believed that this whole affair was initially aimed at the black market in the eastern district.

As a result, the black market in the western district suddenly appeared, leading many to secretly remark on the good fortune of the six people from the eastern district market.

Lin Chang'an and the others all revealed a cold expression.

The Foundation Establishment cultivators in the West District all had a look of desperate madness in their eyes, while Qin Feng, who was in charge, hurriedly put on an act as if he wanted to discuss things properly.

However, Lin Chang'an saw this scene very clearly.

It's just a matter of good cop and bad cop.

"Fellow Daoists, we are here to borrow resources to overcome our difficulties. Please do not act rashly."

"Fellow Daoist Qin, it's not that we're being impulsive, it's just that this matter is such a coincidence."

"Exactly, this is too much of a coincidence."

Through this alternation of good cop/bad cop, a clear sense of threat was being conveyed.

The top ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in the West District have staked everything they have; if they lose them all, they will definitely not let the East District off easy.

"Alright, Lao Lin, did you see that? These people got ripped off because of their greed, and now they're blaming us."

Old Hu was furious. How dare they threaten him!
However, the next moment, before Lao Hu could react, a cold light and a streak of green light arrived in an instant.

"Old Lin!"

Old Hu's eyes widened, but Yun Yao, wielding a cold spear, gave him no chance to threaten her, and a spear shadow radiating coldness came straight at him.

"not good!"

Qin Feng and the other Foundation Establishment cultivators were shocked and hurriedly activated their magic shields. They did not expect that their opponent would attack without warning.

This caught them completely off guard.

Lin Chang'an's Azure Scale Sword was used so decisively that he and Yun Yao fought without any hesitation.

There was a loud bang!
The walls of the black market's attic shattered, sending Foundation Establishment cultivators flying one after another. At the same time, the cultivators inside the black market cried out in alarm.

"Oh no! Someone's causing trouble in the market!"

Who has the guts to eat a bear's heart and a leopard's gall?

"Look, it's Foundation Establishment cultivators from the West District causing trouble here."

Although the black market was sparsely populated during the day, quite a few cultivators still stayed at a distance to watch the spectacle.

Instead, amidst the ruins, a series of coughs revealed Qin Feng, the leader, staring in disbelief at the scene before him with eyes wide with shock.

"How...how is it possible!"

The power of that single strike filled Qin Feng with a hint of fear. Others might not recognize it, but he could tell it was a top-grade spiritual weapon!
Two items still!

It's one thing for a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator to have one, but how come everyone surnamed Lin has one? That's so unfair.

The two early Foundation Establishment cultivators who had spoken rudely earlier were now lying on the ground in a sorry state, their eyes filled with fear.

The other cultivators who had just established their foundations were still in shock, staring in horror at the scene before them.

The anger from before has long since dissipated.

As the chill spread, a dragon slowly landed in Yun Yao's hand and transformed into a cold spear.

At this moment, Yun Yao, her face veiled in black gauze, exuded a terrifying aura befitting a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, wielding a cold spear.

"roll!"

Yun Yao's cold voice echoed, demonstrating the power of a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, far beyond what a few early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators could threaten.

A terrifying killing intent permeated the air.

Lin Chang'an, who also made a move, had his limelight stolen, but he showed no dissatisfaction. Instead, he coldly stared at Qin Feng.

"Tsk tsk, Lao Qin, look at you guys, why are you sitting on the ground?"

After Yun Yao and Lin Chang'an made their move, Lao Hu was not to be outdone. With a smile on his face, he teased them, but he had already drawn a large knife.

The threat is obvious.

"Old Qin, I've told you before, Foundation Establishment cultivators are also divided into different levels. It's not that just because there are more people, they are more powerful."

Old Ghost, He Yan, and Old Jia all exuded a murderous aura.

It should be noted that among these people, even though Old Jia's temper has subsided, he used to hunt monsters for many years, and his murderous aura should not be underestimated.

Although there are ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in the West District, only two are at the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment, while the rest are all at the early stage.

It was a one-sided victory from the start.

"Misunderstanding! Misunderstanding!"

At this moment, Qin Feng, with a sorrowful expression, quickly stood between the two sides, saying that these two fellow Daoists had acted impulsively and that it was all a misunderstanding.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, Fellow Daoist Yun, please calm down. They were just blinded by their emotions and it's a misunderstanding."

The mere blow, the near-death experience, jolted these early Foundation Establishment cultivators awake.

Only then did they calm down, and naturally they chose to save their lives over their family's wealth.

"S-Sorry!"

The two early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators, lying disheveled on the ground, had a chilling aura about them, their teeth chattering, and they forced an ugly smile as they bowed.

Their faces turned pale not from anger, but from the terrifyingly cold magical power of the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator they had just encountered.

Moreover, judging from their attitude, if they dare to cause any trouble, they will all have to pay the price here today.

"Misunderstand!"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone present, all of them were cultivators well past their prime, and they all knew their place. The chill dispelled any remaining anger they might have felt. Qin Feng, the leader, awkwardly bowed and apologized before leading his group away in a disheveled state.

"Old Qin, I'll be keeping an eye on you!"

Having already offended him, Lao Hu naturally wouldn't let any opportunity pass. He directly mocked him with a cold laugh and even held up two fingers to show his eyes.

It seems to be saying that he will keep an eye on things, and if you dare to do anything underhanded behind my back, they won't be so lenient.

The farce ended, but it also established the formidable reputation of the East District Market.

With the strength of the six Foundation Establishment cultivators, the Western District had no power to resist.

……

With the cultivator's speed, the shattered wall was completely transformed.

At this moment, everyone sat together, but their expressions revealed a solemnity.

"Everyone, please be careful lately, lest these people try some underhanded tricks."

"Hmph! If this weren't Tianxuan City, where we can't act recklessly, these people would have been finished by today."

Beneath the old ghost's cold demeanor, a hint of regret was clearly visible in his eyes.

If any one or two of these people had acted impulsively, they wouldn't have let the other party leave so easily.

It can only be said that this is Tianxuan City, and given their identity as a demonic sect, Tianxuan City has secretly warned them, so they naturally cannot act recklessly.

"At this point, the West District Market is already at its wit's end. Let's see how many more days they can be so arrogant."

Amidst the cold laughter of the crowd, Lin Chang'an, the mastermind behind all of this, remained calm and showed no remorse.

If this man surnamed Qin hadn't plotted against them, he wouldn't have left them with such a ruthless end.

As for retaliation, they have no fear of a few cultivators who have only recently established their foundation within Tianxuan City.

Just as Lao Hu said, Foundation Establishment cultivators are also divided into different levels. He can fight ten newly established Foundation Establishment cultivators!
And the real show has only just begun.

Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered as he pondered inwardly, realizing that it was not wise to go too far in Tianxuan City at the moment.

However, it would be best to eliminate this potential problem if there is an opportunity in the future.

……

After their arduous journey back to the West District Market, the group still wore expressions of fear as they circulated their magical power to dispel the chill within their bodies.

"A late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, how terrifying!"

"Yes, we have to admit defeat this time. We can always earn back our savings, but it's not worth offending a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator."

Many of the others also had gloomy faces, but none of them refuted the claims.

The ten of them were bound together by mutual interests, and now that such a big thing had happened, looking at the deserted market, they couldn't help but start blaming each other again.

"You, surnamed Qin, you were the one who said everything would be foolproof, but in the end, we lost everything..."

"Damn it, if we had taken a more cautious approach back then, we wouldn't be in this situation today..."

Some people pointed and complained to each other, while others shook their heads and sighed, no longer wanting to get involved.

People come together because of interests, and they also separate because of interests.

Qin Feng, the mastermind behind all of this, gritted his teeth and said, "Those surnamed Lin, those surnamed Hu, and this bitch, I will not lose!"

The turmoil in the black market of Tianxuan City is a topic of much discussion.

Although Qin Feng had some skills, under these circumstances, people's hearts were unsettled, and after several people withdrew, the West District Market fell apart.

Unfortunately, things didn't go as planned!
The black market is only so big, and there are plenty of people who would seize the opportunity to kick someone when they're down, so Lin Chang'an and the others didn't make a move.

The other black markets joined forces and squeezed the West District into a deserted state.

The West District Market, which was originally established by the ten Foundation Establishment cultivators, ended up in such a dismal state.

That's not bad; at least some spirit stones and materials weren't completely lost, and everyone left one by one.

The ordeal in the West District also served as a wake-up call to the rest of the black market.

As for suspecting the East District black market? Foundation Establishment cultivators who knew better secretly shook their heads. Such a large-scale operation must be backed by a powerful force.

……

Immediately afterwards, earth-shattering news came from the West District Market.

It turns out that Qin Feng colluded with outside cultivators to set up a scheme, and the reason why the Qin family abandoned the family interests of Tianxuan City was because they were planning to relocate to another country.

The Qin family had been preparing to relocate for some time, and this time it's now absolutely certain.

In an instant, the top ten Foundation Establishment cultivators in the West District Market turned against each other, staging a grand drama.

"Old Lin, that Qin fellow is really a scoundrel. He actually colluded with outsiders. But this time he's really unlucky. The other party has gone far away, which has really ruined the Qin family."

I heard that the old Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Qin family were so angered that they fell seriously ill, and the Qin family head, unable to face his family, resigned from his position as family head. I heard he left Tianxuan City in a fit of madness, weeping uncontrollably.

Old Hu, gloating, recounted the changes in the Qin family.

Lin Chang'an listened to this turn of events, nodding with a smile, but secretly pondering in his heart.

In this way, the other party will no longer pose any threat.

All of this was naturally his plan, after all, it would be extremely easy for a dozen second-tier skill cultivators to create some evidence.

One or two cases might be fake, but how could a dozen or so be fake?

"One wrong step leads to another, and the Qin family has lost its foundation. It is no longer the Qin family it once was."

Lin Chang'an remained calm, showing no sign of wavering in his belief that he had single-handedly manipulated the Qin family to the brink of ruin.

This has always been the case in the cultivation world: when someone is being greedy and calculating, one should consider the consequences.

“Who says otherwise?” Old Hu nodded in agreement.

"Although I don't like this guy surnamed Qin, he does have some skills. It's a pity that he made a wrong move when Tianxuan City was in turmoil. His eagerness for quick success and instant benefits led to this disaster."

Old Hu also shook his head. Ever since the war broke out in Yue, it had never stopped.

The rise and fall of many families over hundreds of years make one lament the cruelty and ruthlessness of the cultivation world.

The Qin family made a mistake in deciding to sell their spiritual fields and shops in preparation for relocation, but who can predict the future?

Qin Feng was anxious because of this incident, feeling ashamed of his ancestors, which is why he was so eager to make amends.

"The remaining independent cultivators all sent apology gifts. Some joined families as patrons, while others simply joined merchant guilds in other countries and left..."

Old Hu then recounted the whereabouts of the ten people one by one, which made Lin Chang'an nod in approval.

Old Hu is actually quite cautious in private.

Keep an eye on any potential crises.

"So many people left the Yue Kingdom?"

Upon hearing that many Foundation Establishment cultivators had been recruited by these foreign merchant guilds and hired as guest advisors, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but frown.

It is well known that in Tianxuan City, a place rich in spiritual energy, it is extremely difficult for ordinary rogue cultivators to find another place like this.

Old Hu let out a long, helpless sigh.

"It's all because of the tense situation in our Yue Kingdom. The Divine Sword Sect and the Li Huo Palace have joined forces, and there's no sign of the war stopping."

Not everyone is like us, free from all ties and single-mindedly pursuing the Great Way.

As he said this, Old Hu glanced at Lin Chang'an discreetly, muttering to himself.

Old Lin is a top-grade talisman master with exceptional talent; few less talented individuals could have persevered.

And him, if it weren't for the legacy left by his ancestors, he probably would have come to terms with it long ago.

"Yes, I wonder when this war will end."

Lin Chang'an sighed with melancholy. Tianxuan City was originally such a wonderful spiritual place, guarding the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

If it weren't for the war, how many of these cultivators would be willing to leave this place?

Late-stage Qi Refining cultivators aiming to establish their foundation flocked to Tianxuan City.

After reaching the Foundation Establishment stage, most cultivators who have made no progress in their arduous cultivation over the years and become disheartened simply want to live a peaceful life.

It's a personal choice, and no one can judge whether it's right or wrong.

　Thank you all for your support.
　　
　
(End of this chapter)