Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 201 Withered Vine [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Inside the cave.

After a moment of silence, the eldest elder of the Wang family slowly took out a jade box from his storage bag with a complicated expression.

As the jade box was opened, a withered and yellowed vine root, about the size of half a little finger, appeared.

These withered vine roots seemed to turn to ashes at the slightest touch, yet they exuded an eerie aura.

"Back then, within the secret realm, my Wang family was fortunate enough to obtain this ancient cultivation technique. Together with this vine root, it might have been some kind of spiritual root of heaven and earth in ancient times."

But now that it has lost all its spiritual essence, it probably doesn't have much value as a material for refining weapons..."

As the hoarse voice echoed, Lin Chang'an's pupils contracted; he saw the marks of a sharp weapon on the vine root.

But the moment this object appeared, his natal spiritual plant in his dantian trembled, clearly showing a look of longing, which is why he lost his composure.

Others might not know what it is, but he already had a vague guess in his mind.

The remnant leaf of the Mysterious Heavenly Vine that he obtained actually caused a tremor in his heart; it was possible that this thing was the root system of the Mysterious Heavenly Vine.

His natal spiritual plant is related to his future. Even a withered leaf has such supernatural power. If he could obtain the root of this vine, wouldn't that mean...?

However, at this moment, the eldest elder of the Wang family revealed a mocking sneer, naturally seeing the greed in Lin Chang'an's disguised female cultivator's eyes.

But he casually waved the jade box over.

"When the Dragon Island Master examined it, he found nothing. He tried every method but discovered that it was just a broken root that had lost all its spiritual energy. It could even leave marks on ordinary iron, so it was completely useless."

So, despite all these years of plundering merchant ships and using blood sacrifices... my Wang family is still a useless piece of trash. We've done our best."

Blood sacrifice is a demonic method that devours the blood and essence of cultivators.

The eldest elder of the Wang family looked grim. Even a withered tree can only have hope if there is a glimmer of life.

But such creation from nothing is probably only possible through the legendary methods of immortals.

At first, some people kept an eye on it, but after seeing that the thing showed no signs of life, they gradually gave up.

After all, this thing isn't very valuable anymore.

"Completely lost its spirituality!"

Lin Chang'an's eyes flickered. It was rumored that many ancient spiritual plants would turn into ordinary trees after losing their spirituality.

Losing all spirituality is not uncommon in the world of cultivation.

At the very least, he knew that once a third-tier spiritual fruit was picked, the spiritual plant itself would quickly wither and lose all its spirituality, becoming nothing more than an ordinary plant.

Only the fallen leaves still have some use.

The fact that the other party has brought out this item now clearly means they want her to return Five Dragons Island as well.

"Elder, I understand."

Lin Chang'an swallowed hard, carefully closed the jade box, and then affixed two talismans to ensure everything was safe before putting it into his storage bag.

However, this scene, in the eyes of the Grand Elder, was a despicable act of greed but cowardice.

Lin Chang'an took a deep breath. His original purpose in coming here was to find the Body Refinement Manual, but it seems that he has obtained something even more extraordinary.

He had a feeling that he should leave this place as soon as possible, and that there was no need to take risks for this body-refining chapter.

Just as Lin Chang'an was about to call it quits, he suddenly remembered something, hesitated for a moment, and raised his head to tentatively glance at the Wang family elder.

"Elder, there are so many resources this time, and I am only at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage. The journey is long and there is a risk of something going wrong..."

Under the unease of Lin Chang'an's disguise as a female cultivator, although she was very greedy, who would dare to covet the resources of a Golden Core cultivator?

His timid and cautious demeanor not only did not arouse suspicion from the eldest elder of the Wang family, but was also understood by him.

After all, this woman had two helpers before, but now she is all alone, and the rest of the Wang family has already set off.

"Alright, I will go to Five Dragons Island with you."

The eldest elder of the Wang family nodded calmly without the slightest doubt.

Lin Chang'an was secretly delighted. If they made a move here, who knew if the other side had any hidden tricks up their sleeve? After all, this was their territory.

However, on the way, he had set up an array on an island on his escape route for safety.

If this person is lured away to the island where the formation is set up, he will be nothing more than an isolated and helpless old man.

"Elder, please."

With a respectful expression, and to avoid arousing suspicion from the elder, the two of them carried the storage bags containing high-grade materials on their own person.

……

The sea was calm, and a streak of blue light flashed. Lin Chang'an, disguised as a female cultivator, had been on tenterhooks the whole way, but she never expected things to go so smoothly.

Sitting on the flying boat, the eldest elder of the Wang family gazed at the scenery of the world along the way, with a look of reluctance occasionally appearing in his eyes.

This scene is in line with the mindset of a cultivator whose lifespan is about to end.

After all, no one would be willing to die.

"Elder, let's go down and recover our magical power first."

Lin Chang'an, disguised as a female cultivator, spoke calmly as he directed the flying boat toward a small island below.

When cultivators are traveling normally and have nothing urgent to do, they will try their best to keep their magical power at more than 90%.

It's perfectly normal to take a break and recover during the journey.

Otherwise, if one is too busy traveling and consumes 30-40% of their magical power, and then encounters a cultivator who has been plundering them, wouldn't that be a huge loss?

Therefore, the Grand Elder had no doubts about Lin Chang'an's actions and even nodded secretly in approval.

We are all Foundation Establishment cultivators who have lived for over a hundred years. If we didn't even have this much caution and experience, we would have capsized long ago.

"Elder, why don't you enjoy the scenery first?"

After landing on the island, Lin Chang'an, disguised as a female cultivator, nodded softly, then found a clean rock, sat cross-legged, and began to recover her magical power.

The elder, however, remained unhurried, gazing at the surrounding scenery with a look of longing in his cloudy eyes.

"There are so many beautiful sights in this world, but it's a pity that I, an old man, will soon be able to see them."

The eldest elder of the Wang family sighed wistfully, for people only have this kind of realization when their lifespan is about to end.

These are all commonplace scenes, but for some reason, every single one of them feels so memorable this time.

The sea breeze, the shimmering waves—even on a deserted island, there's a unique charm to it all.

"Such a beautiful view, it seems like we've missed out on so much."

Just as the eldest elder of the Wang family was lamenting that he had missed too many beautiful sights in his life, his cloudy pupils suddenly contracted.

"This is!"

Under his gaze, the eldest elder of the Wang family seemed to have discovered something, and his expression changed, his aged demeanor suddenly bursting forth with a powerful aura.

"Oh no! There's an ambush formation here! Get out of here!"

Before leaving, the elder did not forget to remind Lin Chang'an, who was disguised as a female cultivator.

However, just as the Grand Elder shot out, a streak of bloody light attacked from behind.

Blood Spirit Thorn

"you!"

With a crisp sound, the Wang family elder's expression, though filled with shock and anger, also revealed a look of disbelief.

The person who attacked from behind was actually a female cultivator.

The female cultivator chuckled and said, "It seems the Grand Elder is quite pleased with the beauty of this place. Why not make it his final resting place?"

The sudden appearance of the barrier around them caused the eldest elder of the Wang family to change his expression.

"Very well! It seems that Island Master Long doesn't want to keep us here, and has made his move at this time."

Lin Chang'an was stunned upon hearing this.

This old guy actually thought it was an order from the Dragon Lord of Five Dragons Island.

But thinking about it, it makes sense. As a knife used in private and hidden from the light of day, isn't it meant to be cleaned up after use?

"Elder, will you surrender willingly, or suffer some hardship?"

"furious!"

However, the surrounding barrier began to turn fiery red, and a terrifying heat aura condensed, causing fire-devouring demon spirits to materialize. At this moment, the Grand Elder of the Wang family couldn't help but reveal a look of madness.

"Good! It seems this robbery of merchant ships is also a conspiracy, aimed at completely eradicating our Wang family, is that it? In that case, don't blame me for fighting to the death!"

"Elder, the Wang family must be gone by now."

Lin Chang'an, disguised as a female cultivator, retreated within the formation and continued to taunt.

Sure enough, when the Wang family faced a life-or-death crisis, the eldest elder of the Wang family became anxious.

As time went on, the Grand Elder roared, proving himself to be a veteran late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, his strength was terrifying when he fought desperately.

One by one, the fire-devouring demons were scattered.

"This is a high-grade second-tier grand formation!"

Seeing the Fire-Devouring Demon Spirit constantly re-condensing, and witnessing the strength of the array barrier, the Wang family elder was shocked and enraged. This was truly a case of eliminating the root of the problem.

"Damn it! This old thing actually has a near-third-tier barrier-breaking talisman."

Originally intending to wear down the elder, Lin Chang'an's expression changed upon seeing the talisman the elder had taken out.

Immediately, the sound of his conversation with the female cultivator echoed within the formation.

"What are you all standing there for? Don't let this old guy get away."

"Hmph! Let me have a go at this old geezer."

A golden streak of light flashed, and the phoenix bird cried out as it attacked the Grand Elder.

Lin Chang'an's figure appeared right behind him, and a terrifying sword beam shot straight out.

"Late Foundation Establishment stage! And a late-stage second-tier spirit pet!"

Upon seeing that the other party had helpers, the Grand Elder couldn't help but show a look of anxiety. Damn it, this female cultivator was so cunning; not only did she have helpers, but she was also hiding in the shadows.

The intelligence gap between the two sides caused the Grand Elder to remain cautious and wary of the female cultivator hiding in the shadows while engaging in fierce combat.

Lin Chang'an's plan succeeded.

The battle was extremely fierce. Lin Chang'an was stronger than his opponent, but his opponent was fighting desperately, and Lin Chang'an did not want to lose his life for nothing.

“Fellow Daoist, Five Dragons Island acts tyrannically. Today, my Wang family may be tomorrow’s.”

Amidst the fierce battle, the eldest elder of the Wang family looked extremely anxious. He didn't care if he died, but he absolutely couldn't let the Wang family suffer the same fate.

He had to send a message back.

The voice coming from the shadows amused Lin Chang'an. He probably didn't know that this Grand Elder was the one who had orchestrated all of this.

"Fellow Daoist Wang, do you think I dare to let you go?"

“Fellow Daoist, I know I cannot leave today, but if you allow me to… I am willing to tell you the secrets of the Wang family.”

He heard the elder's voice transmission in his ear, constantly tempting him.

Seeing the other person panting heavily, and finally revealing a look of madness and threat, Lin Chang'an hesitated for a moment.

“Fellow Daoist, this lowly servant is hiding in the shadows, letting you fight to the death. I will naturally not survive today. But if you fight to the death, can you say you won’t get hurt?”

You must know that this lowly servant girl previously pocketed the storage bags of both of her companions. And fellow Daoist, don't you intend to leave yourself a way out in the future? My Wang family..."

Faced with the other party's threats and inducements, Lin Chang'an seemed to be persuaded.

"Alright! As long as Fellow Daoist Wang hands over this secret to me, I will pretend to be negligent later. As for whether Fellow Daoist Wang's near-third-order barrier-breaking talisman can break through even a crack, that's up to you."

"Fellow Daoist, rest assured, my death is of little consequence; I merely wish to leave some bloodline for the Wang family..."

During their exchange of telepathic messages, a jade slip ended up in Lin Chang'an's hand in the blink of an eye.

However, seeing that Lin Chang'an was so careful, he didn't even handle it, but directly put it into his storage bag.

"It's now!"

Elder Wang had no time to think. Upon hearing the other party's telepathic message, he roared furiously:
"Since you want me to die, then all of you may die!"

"Not good!" Seeing this, Lin Chang'an hurriedly retreated, but a sword beam shot straight towards the opponent.

This crazed Elder Wang ignored the terrifying sword shadows coming at him and directly summoned three near-third-tier barrier-breaking talismans.

Rumble!
Under the terrifying power of the barrier-breaking talisman, the array barrier trembled violently and cracked open. Taking advantage of this opportunity, Elder Wang couldn't help but reveal a look of surprise.

However, at that moment, a sword flash pierced straight through his chest.

Blood splattered everywhere, but although Elder Wang was shocked by the power of the sword shadow, a smile appeared on his face.

At this moment, the Thousand-Mile Transmission Jade Talisman in his palm had already been sent out.

The moment the gap in the formation appeared, his intelligence was sent out.

"Heh heh, I'm tired, but the Wang family still has a long way to go, you must..."

His body fell to the ground, and Elder Wang coughed up a lot of blood. His eyes were filled with resentment, nostalgia, and deep regret.

If the royal family hadn't been so radical back then, perhaps they would still be developing well in the Seven Kingdoms.

However, in his dying moments, he vaguely saw the figure of the cultivator in his unfocused pupils.

"Finally, all my magical power has been sealed, so nothing bad will happen."

Lin Chang'an also secretly breathed a sigh of relief. After all, he was a late Foundation Establishment cultivator. It was better to use strategy than to risk one's life.

If the other party risks their life and gets injured, we'll suffer a huge loss.

"how……"

With his consciousness fading, Elder Wang seemed to sense something was wrong before plunging into darkness.

However, darkness descended, giving him little time to think.

"I'm a kind-hearted person, and I can't bear to see others die with their eyes wide open."

This can be considered a way of saving the Wang family, since it was only a matter of time before the Wang family was purged.

Arriving before Elder Wang's corpse, Lin Chang'an shook his head, putting on an act of being a good person, but then stretched out his palm, activated his natal spiritual plant, and quickly began to read the other's memories.

He dared not delay for even a moment, lest he lose everything by missing the inheritance of the Body Refinement Chapter.

……

half an hour.

Lin Chang'an, exhausted, opened his eyes on the deserted island, his head covered in sweat.

"It seems that the weaker you are, the better for this memory reading technique. It's actually made me so tired."

Lin Chang'an rubbed his tired temples, but the gains this time were enormous.

The other party was not lying. Back then, the Wang family only obtained a cultivation technique inheritance and these withered vine roots in the secret realm.

However, before they could even read it, a cultivator from the Li Huo Palace discovered it and stole a copy.

"Moreover, the Wang family actually gave this cultivation technique to Five Dragons Island."

Lin Chang'an had initially held onto a sliver of hope, but now he could only sigh helplessly.

Five Dragons Island is a Golden Core power, far beyond his reach.

"But that old bastard is really cunning."

Lin Chang'an snorted coldly and took out the jade slip that the old man had given him earlier.

It's obvious that the other party left a trap in this so-called cultivation method, not mentioning at all that it takes more than three thousand years to refine one's natal spiritual plant.

"However, this old man doesn't know that this is the very technique I cultivate."

After Lin Chang'an took the storage bag and other valuables from the other party, he then used a fireball spell.

He promised to find this person a propitious burial site, and he kept his word.

Moreover, the other party had looked at this place for a long time and was very satisfied.

Without any hesitation, he cleaned up the battlefield and left the place immediately.

However, he still left some traces of the unique combat techniques of the Li Huo Palace on the island.

　Thank you all for your support. It's almost the end of the month, so please vote for me next month.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)