Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 320 This Time I'm Not Going to Find an Honest Person [Seeking Monthly Tickets]

Haiyuan City.

Several months have passed since the last rescue of the spirit ship and the killing of the ghost cultivator.

After returning, Lin Chang'an came to Haiyuan City again.

As for the excuse he gave for communicating with Fairy Ni Chang of Xuan Yin Pavilion, it was very simple: he had some precious materials that he needed to purchase in Haiyuan City.

No one doubted this point, after all, no matter how prosperous the waters of Five Dragon Island were, they could not compare with those of Sea Abyss City.

This time when Lin Chang'an came to Haiyuan City, he did not bring his sword attendant with him, but left him in the cave to cultivate properly and strive to form the core as soon as possible.

Baoguang Pavilion.

"Fellow Daoist, these are all secret techniques and treasures for controlling ghosts and exorcising souls."

Inside the elegant room, the Core Formation cultivator from last time, with a beaming smile, cupped his hands and took out an illustrated guide.

This time, Lin Chang'an's identity was different from before. By presenting the jade token representing the identity bestowed by the Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace, he gained completely different privileges.

"Thank you, fellow Taoist."

Lin Chang'an responded with a polite smile and a cupped-hand salute. Sure enough, after revealing his identity, the encyclopedia contained many secret techniques and treasures that were not previously listed.

Immediately, Lin Chang'an lowered his head and began to use his divine sense to examine the treasures in Baoguang Pavilion.

Advanced secret techniques, and even complete sets of cultivation methods specializing in this field, were available. Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh, "As expected of the Azure Sea Palace, which has a history of tens of thousands of years."

Meanwhile, he was secretly plotting his own plan.

"The ghost cultivator's memory is very clear: all the third-tier Yin Spirit Beast Kings and ghost cultivators on the island had their souls restricted."

"It's only because my Mysterious Heavenly Vine ignores the restrictions on the soul that I was able to probe the ghost cultivator's memories."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but recall the current situation on Yin Hun Sect Island from the ghost cultivator's memories.

“I’m definitely not the only one who thought of exploring the Yin Soul Sect’s Spirit Island. My only advantage is that I read the ghost cultivator’s memories, so I know more about the situation on the island.”

Lin Chang'an was self-aware; if he could think of scheming for opportunities on Yinhun Sect Island, others certainly weren't stupid either.

"Even if a Nascent Soul cultivator personally performs a soul search, facing the restrictions imposed by the Transformed Yin Spirit Beast King, they can at most obtain some fragmented memories."

The reason why this soul restriction is so powerful is firstly because the transformed Yin Spirit Beast King is skilled in the way of the soul and ghosts.

Secondly, this transformed Yin Spirit Beast King has no regard for the lives of its subordinates.

Once such a powerful and devastating restriction on the soul is placed, it becomes extremely difficult to advance one's cultivation level in this lifetime.

"This ghost cultivator was a powerful cultivator in his previous life, but his strength dropped drastically after he became a ghost cultivator. As a result, he was placed under a soul restriction by this fourth-order transformed Yin Spirit Beast King."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh and shake his head.

In six hundred years, this ghost cultivator's cultivation level has not improved at all, which is clearly a sequela of the soul restriction.

At the same time, this ghost cultivator's experience also made him realize the meaning of "below the Nascent Soul stage, all are ants".

Even a Core Formation cultivator is nothing more than a slightly stronger ant compared to a Nascent Soul cultivator.

He immediately put aside these distracting thoughts and began to focus on looking at the various secret techniques and treasures in the encyclopedia.

"Magic treasures include Ghost-Binding Rings and Spirit-Controlling Tokens, which can imprison and control Yin spirits, although the Yin Soul Sect's Spirit Island is very large."

However, under the divine sense of a Nascent Soul cultivator, such a directly controlled magical artifact is easily detected.

Looking at the pile of magical artifacts for controlling ghosts and exorcising souls, Lin Chang'an shook his head.

He didn't believe that the divine sense of a fourth-tier Yin Spirit Beast King could remain undetected under the control of such a blatant magical artifact.

"This secret technique is quite good."

In the end, Lin Chang'an set his sights on a secret technique that was extremely difficult to conceal.

"However, this secret technique comes at a high price."

When Lin Chang'an saw the introduction to this secret technique, he couldn't help but frown.

This secret technique requires using a Yin Spirit Demon Core as a carrier. First, a magical artifact must be crafted, and then a wisp of one's own divine consciousness must be separated and refined within it, similar to a weapon spirit.

Then, this Yin-attribute magical artifact was fused with a Yin-spirit beast king, and the two formed a symbiotic relationship.

Cultivators can then manipulate this magical artifact to command spirits for their own use.

"But there are also drawbacks. The tyrannical intelligence of the Yin Spirit Beast King remains. Over time, cultivators will also be affected, and may even suffer a backlash."

This was the most secretive and suitable method Lin Chang'an had found.

"Let's use this. I'm sure many people are already trying to find a way to explore the Yin Soul Sect's Spirit Island."

Without hesitation, Lin Chang'an raised his head and chose this secret technique.

Although we enjoyed the privilege of being able to visit Baoguang Pavilion, the price was indeed very high.

A secret technique actually cost him 20,000 mid-grade spirit stones.

"This secret technique is similar to a cultivator raising a powerful and strange spirit pet. After all, not all cultivators have the time to raise a spirit pet from a young age."

Those who can cultivate this secret technique must have set their sights on the third-tier Yin Spirit Beast King.

In the cultivation world, Yin spirits are rare. If it weren't for the fact that Five Dragons Island is adjacent to the Tongtian Mist Sea, many cultivators might never see a Yin spirit in their entire lives.

Therefore, a third-tier Yin Spirit Beast King, if truly tamed, could indeed become a trump card for some cultivators.

After leaving Baoguang Pavilion, Lin Chang'an sighed softly. If it weren't for the demon cores of the five Yin Spirit Beast Kings that had given him some extra spirit stones...

This time, they probably won't even be able to gather enough materials to forge a magic weapon.

"It's time to go back."

During his trip to Haiyuan City, Lin Chang'an also purchased some spiritual herbs and fruits for refining Crystal Condensation Pills.

And the Yin Spirit Jade, which can be used to refine and store demonic energy after returning.

……

Just after Lin Chang'an left Haiyuan City, his intelligence information appeared in the cultivation cave of the Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace.

However, after only one glance, the Sixth Elder calmly waved his hand and said:

"It's a trivial matter; there's no need to report it again in the future."

If a cultivator guarding the Yin Soul Sect's ghost realm doesn't have the guts to scheme for some benefits for himself, then this is the life he'll ever live.

Therefore, Lin Chang'an's actions not only did not offend him, but he also thought they were perfectly normal.

After all, if one wants to visit that secret realm in the future, one must strengthen one's own abilities.

Lacking even the courage to take a gamble, they only seek the protection of powerful cultivators, thus achieving limited success.

……

By the time Lin Chang'an returned, the autumn wind was already blowing.

"Brother Lin, you are truly enviable."

In a private room of a restaurant in Wulong Island Market, Hu Jin raised his glass to greet Lin Chang'an with a hearty smile, while Lin Chang'an also raised his glass with a smile.

"He just broke through to the mid-stage of Core Formation and is already going out to purchase resources. He's really pushing himself too hard."

Hu Jin said enviously, as his cultivation level had always been one step ahead of Lin Chang'an's.

Now, they've actually been caught up.

Lin Chang'an broke through to the mid-stage of Core Formation, went to rescue the merchant ship, and then went to Haiyuan City.

At that very moment, Hu Jin, who had just broken through to the mid-stage of Core Formation, learned of this matter.

"Old Hu, I've been through the danger of 'refining the core'."

Seeing Hu Jin's envious expression, Lin Chang'an revealed a look of lingering fear, and said with a wry smile. In fact, he was also secretly shocked. Old Hu was able to enter the Law Enforcement Hall of Bihai Palace, and now he had also broken through to the mid-stage of Core Formation.

It seems that what was condensed back then was also a high-grade golden elixir.

"Come on, let's not talk about this anymore. Let's drink to the fact that we've both become mid-stage Core Formation cultivators."

Hu Jin, a man of easygoing nature, showed no jealousy whatsoever. Instead, he raised his glass again with a smile on his face.

Lin Chang'an also raised his glass with a smile.

It's not that Hu Jin is making a mountain out of a molehill by trying to break through to the mid-stage of Core Formation; it's just that there are too many cultivators in the cultivation world who can only stay at the early stage of Core Formation for their entire lives.

Limited resources, burdened by family or sect, or suffering from hidden injuries—in short, there are many cultivators in the cultivation world who are at the stage of false core or early core formation.

Mid-stage Core Formation is considered the backbone, or even high-end combat power, of this realm.

After setting down his wine glass, Lin Chang'an looked out the window and saw that the market seemed a bit too bustling. Curious, he asked:

"Old Hu, I just got back and you dragged me here. What happened on the island? Why does the market seem a bit too lively? Especially these cultivators, they all seem extremely excited?"

Lin Chang'an looked puzzled. The cultivators on the market street were all blushing, and their expressions showed obvious excitement.

Upon hearing this, Hu Jin, unusually, showed a hint of envy, and then said sourly:
"What else could it be? Half a month ago, some fake Core cultivator somehow got lucky and obtained a Yinling Fruit on Yinling Sect Island."

Upon returning, he sold it directly to the Sea Palace, receiving in return a top-tier resource for alchemy and an alchemy technique. He is currently in seclusion preparing for alchemy.

Upon hearing Hu Jin's words, Lin Chang'an also showed a rare hint of surprise.

"It's actually a Yin Spirit Fruit!"

The Yinling Fruit is a spiritual plant that only grows in Yin Spring spiritual veins. It only blooms once every six hundred years, and its petals are excellent materials for alchemy.

It will bloom once every hundred years thereafter, and will only begin to bear fruit after 1,200 years. And if you want the fruit to ripen, you have to wait another 300 years.

This fruit is highly beneficial for cultivators to consume in terms of the growth of their spiritual consciousness.

"This is a rare treasure! The Yin Spirit Fruit, which is over 1,480 years old, was actually brought back with its roots intact. The people above are overjoyed."

No wonder Hu Jin's mouth tasted sour; Lin Chang'an was also surprised when he heard this.

If it's taken with its roots and soil intact, doesn't that mean that as long as it's taken back and planted and cultivated in a suitable environment for one or two decades, a mature Yin Spirit Fruit can be obtained?

"The Yin Spirit Fruit, which matures in 1,500 years, is beneficial to the primordial spirit even for Nascent Soul cultivators. No wonder the market is so bustling."

"That's right. Now, many people are getting carried away and starting to think of ways to get out of this ghost realm. Although the transformed Yin Spirit Beast King cannot leave the island, it's not that easy for it to do so."

Hu Jin shook his head. There will always be lucky people, and some things are truly something you can't envy.

Lin Chang'an looked out the window at the bustling market, a smile still on his face, but he was somewhat suspicious.

Was the Yinling Fruit incident orchestrated by the Bihai Palace, or is it truly the case?
If the Azure Sea Palace orchestrated this whole thing, then it's alright. At most, they just want to use their vast base of independent cultivators to gradually wear down the Yin spirits, preventing a ghostly calamity from wreaking havoc on the surrounding seas.

But if it wasn't done by the Azure Sea Palace, then there's a problem.

"On Yinhun Sect Island, isn't it a bit too easy for them to produce such a treasure so readily?!"

Lin Chang'an was secretly suspicious. It wasn't that he was overthinking it, but the place where the Yin Spirit Fruit grew was guarded by at least a powerful third-tier Yin Spirit Beast King.

Even if it's easily obtained.

"However, we cannot rule out the possibility of certain chosen ones."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show a look of envy.

Sometimes, these chosen ones are simply unreasonable; it's not uncommon in the history of cultivation to see Qi Refining cultivators find the inheritance of Nascent Soul cultivators.

Other things might be reasonable, but luck is completely irrelevant.

Even more outrageous, a sect disciple who failed to form his core became jealous and transformed into a tribulation cultivator to relentlessly target rogue cultivators who were plotting to form their core.

Who would have thought that during a robbery, they would encounter a Nascent Soul cultivator mixed in with the Qi Refining cultivators.

Therefore, the way of fortune is the most unpredictable.

"I hope I'm just overthinking it, but we can't be careless."

Lin Chang'an silently warned himself.

"Old Lin, that place is extremely dangerous. If you want to go, you'd better plan ahead."

After a few rounds of drinks, Hu Jin hesitated for a moment, but eventually changed the subject and brought up the matter.

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an's lips curled into a smile.

As expected, his deal with the Sixth Elder could not be kept secret.

After all, the sixth elder of Bihai Palace had spent a hundred years searching for a formation master, so some information naturally couldn't be kept from those who were interested.

"Don't worry, there are still several decades before the secret realm opens. Maybe by then I will be a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, so I will still have the ability to protect myself."

Lin Chang'an said with a smile, while Hu Jin sighed helplessly and then slowly said in a deep voice:
"Old Lin, don't blame me for being nosy, but this secret realm is extremely dangerous. I heard that although the Sixth Elder needs a few third-tier high-grade array masters, he will definitely find more than a few."

After all, the secret realm is dangerous, and no one knows what might happen. Moreover, according to Ning Zhenshi, who survived the last time, the return journey is fraught with peril if one doesn't enter the inner hall..."

Hearing Hu Jin go to the trouble of secretly inquiring about this information and then telling him about the dangers involved, Lin Chang'an felt a warmth in his heart and a smile appeared on his face.

It's incredibly rare to find someone who has cultivated themselves to such a level and still has one or two friends.

"Within the secret realm, once those powerful Nascent Soul cultivators enter the inner hall, the outer gate will close, and all cultivators will be automatically teleported out."

And this is the most dangerous time. Think about it, they are all cultivators who came out of the secret realm, each carrying valuable treasures, and they have no Nascent Soul cultivators to protect them..."

Hearing Hu Jin's words, Lin Chang'an also frowned.

Hu Jin's reminder was correct; every cultivator who dared to enter the secret realm was vying for that sliver of opportunity.

Within the secret realm, ordinary cultivators would naturally not dare to provoke you, for fear of being targeted by a Nascent Soul cultivator. But things are different once you come out.

At this point, you might say you have a Nascent Soul cultivator behind you, but who cares about that now? If there really is a great opportunity, you'll just grab it first.

Then hide away to the ends of the earth and digest the opportunity first.

"Even with the Sea Palace as a backup, it's not enough. These demonic thieves from the outer seas are extremely arrogant."

Hu Jin kept mentioning the dangers of the secret realm, and then, as if he had thought of something, he looked at Lin Chang'an with a strange expression.

"Old Hu, what's with that look?"

"Ahem, Lao Lin, don't misunderstand. Do you know Ning Zhenshi, whom I just mentioned?"

Lin Chang'an frowned slightly upon hearing this, but still nodded gently and said:

"I didn't know before, but now I do. This Ning Array Master is a cultivator who survived the last secret realm."

He is also a near-fourth-tier array master.

"Do you know that this Ning Array Master had a daughter late in life? She is not only beautiful, but also a renowned array genius who has just formed her core."

I've heard that this Array Master Ning is looking for a reliable disciple and son-in-law for his daughter. Old Lin, think about it, this Array Master Ning is incredibly wealthy, and he can even give you pointers on array formations..."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an finally understood the meaning behind Hu Jin's strange look. It was clearly a reminder that this time, the other party was not looking for a son-in-law.

They didn't find someone honest and reliable, the kind who's in control.

Instead, they seek out individuals with good talent, considerable strength, and unwavering resolve.

Old Hu was clearly making fun of him when he was young, which left Lin Chang'an speechless.

However, he understood Lao Hu's good intentions; it was also a reminder that this path was not necessarily a shortcut.

After all, it is the legacy of a near-fourth-tier array master.

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(End of this chapter)