Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 191 The Difficulty of Core Formation
The sun and the moon are like shuttles.

In the blink of an eye, the Seven Nations Alliance had taken root here, and Lin Chang'an had adapted to life here.

They have long faced marine mammals and various natural disasters.

【Lifespan: 93/253】

[Realm: Mid-Foundation Establishment (90/100)]

Inside the cave, as Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes and looked at his cultivation level, he couldn't help but smile with satisfaction.

"Old Hu has been in seclusion for a year and should be breaking through soon, but I can't fall behind. I'll strive to break through within ten years."

The higher one's cultivation level, the more difficult it becomes to break through, especially the bottleneck in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

Moreover, one cannot be too hasty in the path of cultivation. Although Lin Chang'an appeared calm, he was also helpless.

Despite having the recipe for the Heaven-Mending Pill, he lacked the power to improve his spiritual root aptitude. For now, he could only wait until he formed his core before attempting to improve it.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are far from having the ability.

"However, cultivating here is much faster than in Tianxuan City. It's not just the spiritual energy, but more importantly, the price of sea beast meat here is low, which is very beneficial to cultivation."

Despite the fact that his cultivation level has increased by three points every year since he came to Jade Spirit Island two years ago, he can clearly feel subtle changes.

It just hasn't shown up yet.

It's not that their island has a richer spiritual energy than Tianxuan City, but rather that Tianxuan City provides cultivation opportunities for countless cultivators, while here there are only a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Of course, there's another point: the most spiritually rich areas on this island are occupied by Foundation Establishment cultivators, while the three most spiritually rich peaks in Tianxuan City are not for them.

[Tier 2 High-Grade Talisman Master (Grandmaster 3465/5000)]

[Second-Tier High-Grade Alchemist (Grandmaster 969/5000)]

[Second-Tier Mid-Grade Array Master (Proficiency 286/1000)]

Seeing his skills improve, Lin Chang'an nodded in satisfaction.

"A second-tier high-grade talisman master can break through to the third tier in about ten years. At that time, they will be able to start making talisman treasures. They will be able to protect themselves from cultivators below the Golden Core stage."

After all, he still has a magic weapon on him. Since he can't unleash its power with his current cultivation level, he might as well wait until his skills break through and then make one or two talismans for protection.

A year ago, when Yun Yao parted ways, the jade slip she gave him contained rubbings of some of the rich collections of the Li Huo Palace.

Among his insights were those on talismans and formations, which greatly benefited him during this period.

"It seems that Yun Yao and the others played a significant role in the last defection of Li Huo Palace."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly. Although Yun Yao didn't say it, he could imagine the danger involved.

When they parted a year ago, Yun Yao secretly sent him a telepathic message, and he responded.

He only vaguely said that perhaps in about ten years, he would have a chance to break through to the third tier of skills and be able to create talisman treasures.

After all, given their friendship over the years, they could trust each other. Helping Yun Yao make one or two talismans would also help her achieve the Core Formation stage sooner.

It's also paving the way for oneself in advance.

"However, the Demon Beast Abyss has abundant resources, and even materials like quasi-third-tier talisman paper are often available in the Five Dragon Island market."

This is also a grand occasion in the Demon Beast Sea Abyss. High-level demon beasts are scarce in the inland areas, and resources are naturally even scarcer.

The Demon Beast Sea Abyss is teeming with demon beasts, which has led to the development of various methods of exploitation.

For example, in the areas of the Demon Beast Sea Abyss, where talisman drawing, weapon crafting, and alchemy are used, the resources used are more often those of demon beasts, while some cultivation sects in the inland areas rely more on other rare and precious materials.

"Moreover, this place is a melting pot of all sorts of people, making it very easy to sell talismans and pills."

This was incredibly kind to him.

In places like Wulong Island Market, countless independent cultivators travel to the outer seas every year to hunt monsters, resulting in a constant stream of cultivators coming and going.

His goods aren't even worth a ripple.

"If you want to purchase materials such as Core Formation Spiritual Objects or Third-Order Demon Cores, it's safer to go to Haiyuan City."

However, these places are still far away for him, and traveling alone to Haiyuan City would be very risky.

He had made up his mind over the past few years that he would never travel thousands of miles alone to Haiyuan City without a talisman or a breakthrough to the late Foundation Establishment stage.

After all, the talisman he possessed could only be used once.

Moreover, the resources on Five Dragons Island are now sufficient for his daily cultivation needs.

"However, we should also go to the market to sell some talismans and pills, and at the same time purchase some cultivation materials, as well as a near-third-tier spirit brush and a pill furnace."

Back in Tianxuan City, these things were strategic resources and were tightly controlled.

Now, there are not so many restrictions here.

Moreover, he has integrated into the local community over the past two years, and with his skills, it's indeed time for him to get a better tool.

Just in time for the opening of the once-in-a-decade market fair on Wulong Island.

However, the spirit stones in his storage bag are probably only enough for him to buy one item.

Lin Chang'an slowly got up, cleaned up the traces inside the cave, and then slowly walked outside.

……

Outside the cave, although the location had changed, the Green Horned Ox still lazily lay in the pool, basking in the sun.

The only downside is that the weather in the open sea is unpredictable.

After Lin Chang'an walked out, a golden light flashed, and a phoenix appeared on his shoulder.

After consuming that near-third-tier demon core, the Phoenix Bird finally advanced to the late second-tier stage half a year ago.

Its feathers exuded a hot aura, which made Lin Chang'an nod in satisfaction.

"At least I didn't raise you for nothing."

The phoenix is ​​extremely intelligent. It seemed to be able to hear human speech, and immediately raised its neck proudly, nodding repeatedly with pride.

It seems to be saying that it is now a late-stage second-tier spirit beast, and its strength is very strong.

"Alright, you might have an advantage when fighting cultivators, but when it comes to hunting sea beasts, your firebird is easily countered."

Lin Chang'an did suppress the bird appropriately, otherwise it would have been able to float away.

Immediately, the phoenix glared at them with displeasure, chirping incessantly as if trying to express something, before flying directly to the nest they had built.

They caught a palm-sized fish scale and easily pecked out holes in it right in front of him.

Seeing this, Lin Chang'an was speechless. It wasn't a good thing that the bird was too clever.

These fish scales are some left over from a sea monster attack six months ago.

The fact that the phoenix bird could easily peck through it proves that it has the ability to penetrate the armor of second-tier demonic beasts.

"Alright, I know you're powerful. In the future, when we encounter strong enemies or monsters, I'll let you take them on head-on."

Although this bird is clever, it can't outsmart humans.

Lin Chang'an's words completely stunned it, as if it had fallen into a trap.

"Moo!"

The Green Horned Ox lazily walked out of the pool, looked up at the Phoenix Bird with envy, and then came to Lin Chang'an's side and made a flattering sound.

"Alright, you two come with me to the market."

After putting away the two beasts, Lin Chang'an left the cave.

Amidst the beautiful scenery, in the various spirit fields, cultivators from the three races at the second or third level of Qi Refining were diligently working.

Upon seeing Lin Chang'an, these low-level cultivators respectfully bowed from afar.

"These are all inferior spiritual roots, also known as pseudo-spiritual roots, which are much more difficult to cultivate. Compared to them, my low-grade spiritual root is already quite good."

Upon seeing them, Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly, realizing he couldn't underestimate himself.

It's at least much stronger than those with pseudo-spiritual roots.

Upon arriving outside Jade Spirit Island, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but think to himself that this Demon Beast Abyss was different from his previous cultivation grounds, and having a flying spirit boat for travel was quite convenient. "Senior Lin, please be careful when you go out these days."

They happened to encounter a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator from the Li clan, who respectfully bowed upon seeing Lin Chang'an.

"Be careful? Could it be that there are more troublemakers causing chaos recently?"

The word "again" had become so familiar to Lin Chang'an that a hint of helplessness flickered between his brows.

The open sea is never quiet.

Sea monsters, natural disasters, and tribulations have never stopped.

"Senior Lin, you are from the Lu family on Jade Spirit Island. Back then, the Lu family made a powerful entry into Jade Spirit Island, enjoying unparalleled influence. Later, they recklessly offended many people and made many enemies, forcing them to flee..."

Seeing the other person's embarrassed expression, Lin Chang'an understood.

The Lu family's forced escape is likely related to these three major families.

However, these grudges had absolutely nothing to do with him.

Anyway, he doesn't have a family, so there won't be any conflict of interest with the three major local families.

Lin Chang'an then nodded slightly, understanding the other party's well-intentioned reminder.

He then rode away on his flying sword. After flying dozens of miles away from Jade Spirit Island, Lin Chang'an secretly sensed that no one was around, and then disguised himself and changed his clothes.

Not only did he use the Bloodthirsty Poison Ivy to alter his magical aura, but he also concealed his aura to avoid being detected.

However, the next moment, Lin Chang'an actually put away his flying sword and disappeared into the sea.

Water Release Technique (Supreme)

After disappearing into the deep sea, Lin Chang'an's eyes gleamed with spiritual light. Although his divine sense could detect, his spiritual eyes could see even further.

Especially the darkness below.

The Water Escape Technique, which he had been cultivating in Tianxuan City, proved useful in the Demon Beast Sea Abyss.

"Sure enough, you can only prepare in advance; there's no such thing as rushing at the last minute."

In water, one can breathe through the skin, and by simultaneously using the Water Escape Technique, the speed is not much slower than on land.

At the same time, he can clearly see all kinds of strange and unusual sea fish.

"In this way, even if we fight in the water, our combat power will not be weakened much."

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly and headed towards Five Dragons Island at an extremely fast speed.

……

Five Dragon Island.

During the once-a-decade grand event, cultivators from Five Dragons Island gathered in droves. In addition to various merchant guilds, cultivators from the surrounding seas who hunted sea monsters also came and went.

However, in the vast market, every cultivator exuded a murderous aura, looking like someone not to be trifled with.

Lin Chang'an, on the other hand, disguised himself as a thug, revealing a menacing aura. His mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation was not weak in the market.

However, after seeing the flags of numerous merchant guilds, as well as the flags of the major sects of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, he nodded secretly.

"The Seven Nations Alliance has taken root in the past two years, but it won't be easy for them to work together."

Some sects, seeing the power of the Azure Sea Palace, were tempted to stay, while others, like the Mysterious Sound Pavilion, were also drawn to it.

It was previously rumored that Xuan Yin Pavilion was the weakest in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and that the distribution of benefits was unfair.

"In the cultivation world, strength ultimately prevails, no matter how powerful a sect may be."

Lin Chang'an shook his head, saying that these matters were none of his concern.

Moreover, he came to the market fair this time to buy high-grade spirit brushes and alchemy furnaces, and if he had the chance, he would also like to buy a flying spirit artifact.

“An ordinary second-tier high-grade talisman master can earn more than thirty mid-grade spirit stones per month, and nearly four hundred mid-grade spirit stones per year, without affecting his cultivation.”

Lin Chang'an's eyes flashed. This was equivalent to a cultivator with a second-tier superior craftsmanship earning enough to make one ordinary spiritual artifact in a year.

He, on the other hand, earned ten times more.

More than four thousand mid-grade spirit stones a year.

This is an enormous fortune for a rogue cultivator.

However, second-tier superior skills are rare, so many independent cultivators hunt monsters or join forces in order to seize a chance.

"According to the information I had heard before, a single low-grade third-tier demon core costs around 50,000 mid-grade spirit stones. Demon cores of higher quality are mostly obtained through bartering."

Wandering through the streets of the market, Lin Chang'an was deep in thought.

Although he could earn it himself, it would take him thirteen years to get one third-grade low-level demon core, and nearly forty years for three.

This only includes the cost of cultivating secret techniques; it doesn't even include the spiritual items needed to form the Core Formation stage.

More importantly, he needs spirit stones for his daily cultivation expenses as well.

The price of a Core Formation item varies depending on its quality, but even the lowest quality one costs at least 20,000 to 30,000 mid-grade spirit stones.

However, the success rate of forming a Core is too low with inferior spiritual items.

A cultivator with ordinary second-tier superior skills can earn four thousand mid-grade spirit stones in ten years. If they spend forty or fifty years, plus income from spirit fields or other sources, they can grit their teeth and try again.

"Now I am ninety-three years old. If I were to buy it with spirit stones, I'm afraid it would take me a hundred years to gather enough. Even if I were lucky enough to gather enough, I would be two hundred years old by then, and I still wouldn't be able to form a golden core."

At first glance, I thought I was very good at earning spirit stones, but upon closer examination, it turned out that wasn't the case at all.

Otherwise, those sects and clans, who amass considerable wealth through the Chamber of Commerce every year, still struggle to help their disciples achieve Core Formation.

"Therefore, if you want to plan to form your core, you still have to rely on yourself!"

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly, after all, the formation of the core is also related to the cultivator's own spiritual root aptitude.

He is not like Yun Yao, who possesses superior spiritual roots and high aptitude.

With his low-grade spiritual root aptitude, the chances of him forming a core are too low if he doesn't complete all three stages of the 'Three-Stage Core Formation Technique'.

"If we rely on ourselves, then we can only depend on the third-tier 'Blood Fiend Crimson Sun Formation' and talisman treasures."

Therefore, in recent years, in addition to improving my talisman-making skills to the third level and striving to be able to create talisman treasures as soon as possible,

We still need to slowly find opportunities to repair and complete this formation.

Fortunately, I got my hands on the main formation board and the formation flags.

"There's no rush. Let's take it one step at a time. This is a high-grade third-tier array. Even if it can't be fully restored, we'll have a chance if we can repair it to a low-grade third-tier array."

There was even Yun Yao, but he never expected her to give him a Core Formation item for free. However, if she could form a Core...

With so many Core Formation cultivators helping him, he was extremely confident of success.

Just then, a commotion suddenly broke out ahead.

"Damn it, so what if we're part of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance? This is the Demon Beast Abyss! Not some backwater for you. Be careful when you're out here!"

"you!"

"What do you mean 'you'? We'll kill you and go find a place to make a living. Haiyuan is so big, do you really think we're afraid of you?"

Lin Chang'an glanced at it from afar, then sighed and shook his head.

Having come to this place, we can no longer indulge in the carefree life of independent cultivators back in the Seven Kingdoms era.

So what if you have a Core Formation cultivator behind you? They can kill you and run away. Would your sect's Core Formation cultivators risk going thousands of miles to hunt down a Tribulation cultivator just for you?

It should be known that every year in the Demon Beast Sea Abyss, let alone third-tier demon beasts, countless Core Formation cultivators perish.

I've heard there are even Core Formation cultivators who specialize in Tribulation Cultivation.

"Let's go and purchase some supplies first, and then wait for the auction on Five Dragon Island to begin."

Lin Chang'an lowered his straw hat, and his figure disappeared into the crowd.

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