Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 362 Five Years
Tianquan Peak.

Inside the pavilion, Lin Chang'an rubbed the jade talisman in his palm, his expression becoming somewhat solemn.

"Brother Lin, it's not convenient for me to show up at the moment..."

Yun Yao's divine sense echoed within the communication jade talisman, causing Lin Chang'an to feel a slight chill.

Given Yun Yao's current cultivation level and status, coupled with her importance to the Xuan Yin Old Demon, she wouldn't be easily assigned to carry out dangerous missions.

So this current caution is either because there's someone in the same industry who's just as capable as themselves, and they're afraid of exposing themselves.

Or they're being secretly watched.

"The Xuan Yin Divine Fire within Yun Yao's body is an opportunity that even the Nascent Soul Old Demon is plotting. Since Yun Yao was able to come out, it shouldn't be because she exposed herself."

Lin Chang'an speculated, but ultimately sighed softly.

"In the end, it all comes down to strength. If we had the strength of a Nascent Soul cultivator, we wouldn't be so cautious."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but reveal a strange expression. He and Yun Yao seemed like the villains.

He colluded with the Holy Maiden of the Demonic Cult to commit rebellious acts.

"Owner!"

Just then, the sword attendant respectfully prepared the spirit tea, but Lin Chang'an couldn't help much at the moment and could only suppress his myriad thoughts in his heart.

After taking a sip of the spiritual tea, Lin Chang'an suddenly raised an eyebrow and said softly:
"The spirit tea has been changed?"

"Master, these were specially sent by other Core Formation cultivators from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance after they heard that you enjoy tea."

Lin Chang'an nodded upon hearing this, realizing it was spiritual tea from other sea areas.

It was a little different from what he was used to drinking, but it was still the best spiritual tea.

He didn't mind or dislike it at all. Like cultivating immortality, tea tasting requires constantly exploring new horizons and one cannot be complacent.

Then, Lin Chang'an sipped his spiritual tea and gazed at the scenery of Tianquan Peak, his heart filled with countless sorrows.

"In the cultivation world, strength ultimately prevails."

He was almost helpless regarding the Xuan Yin Demonic Sect and Yun Yao's affairs.

However, within the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, although he was also a Core Formation cultivator, his strength and status were comparable to those of a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

This caused the other Core Formation cultivators in the Seven Kingdoms Alliance to show their desire to befriend and curry favor with him.

Otherwise, a Core Formation cultivator wouldn't have specially delivered this spiritual tea.

"Although I am comparable to a late-stage Core Formation cultivator, I am more of a spirit pet and array master. I must break through to the late-stage Core Formation stage as soon as possible."

Faced with Yun Yao's problem, the feeling of being unable to help at all gave Lin Chang'an a sense of urgency.

Breaking through to the late stage of Core Formation as soon as possible will increase one's strength, especially the Profound Heaven Spirit Body. If one can cultivate it, even when facing a Nascent Soul cultivator, one will have a certain degree of ability to escape.

"Recently, the Lu family, the Long family, and many other families have wanted to visit the master."

The sword attendant respectfully reported on the recent situation, and Lin Chang'an shook his head with a smile after listening.

He knew exactly what these people were thinking.

They were only after Bibo Island's profits.

"Alright, if they visit again in the future, let the cultivators from the Xuan Yin Pavilion receive them. After all, I am still an elder of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, not just a rogue cultivator."

It would be best to have Xuan Yin Pavilion handle this, after all, the Nascent Soul cultivator behind Bi Bo Island, Lu Zhenjun, is the one who allowed the Seven Kingdoms Alliance to take over.

It wasn't just Lin Chang'an; he wasn't stupid enough to step forward for a pittance.

He's currently enjoying a honeymoon period of cooperation within the G7 alliance, and he's making quite a bit of money.

"Don't worry about these things for now. The situation is changing. Once the real turmoil begins, even Core Formation cultivators will be nothing more than pawns on a chessboard."

As Lin Chang'an said this, his gaze fell upon the sword attendant, who, understanding the implication, respectfully clasped his hands in greeting:
"Master, don't worry."

I have relatively good faith in Lin Chang'an, the swordsman.

Immediately, Lin Chang'an put down his teacup, got up, and headed into the cave.

Upon seeing this, the green-horned ox in the pool couldn't help but moo.

Upon seeing this, the sword attendant skillfully took out two spirit fruits from his storage bag.

Upon seeing the spiritual fruit, even the Green Horned Ox couldn't help but widen its eyes, as if to say to the Sword Attendant, "When did you become so extravagant?"

Are the spirit fruits being given in pairs?
It remembers that it wasn't like this before.

"The master has been giving me a lot of cultivation resources lately."

The swordsman instantly understood what the Green Horned Ox meant, and couldn't help but stroke its fur, revealing a rare smile as he spoke.

Since the acquisition of the Bibo Island black market and the opening of a spirit mine, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance has seen a significant increase in profits.

Lin Chang'an, who profited from both sides, naturally made a fortune.

Whether it's a sword servant or one's own spirit pet, the cultivation resources should naturally be doubled.

After all, improving his strength is ultimately a good thing for him.

……

Inside the secret chamber of the cave for cultivation.

Lin Chang'an took out the three Dragon Blood Fruits he had exchanged with Meng Xinghai at the trade fair and couldn't help but smile.

"Three thousand-year-old dragon blood fruits are enough to save me ten or twenty years of arduous cultivation."

As for a breakthrough, that's not quite it yet. After all, body refinement is different from other things; it requires the slow and steady process of water dripping through stone.

After all, he hadn't been at the third level of body refinement for very long. Although he had abundant cultivation resources, he still needed to follow a gradual approach.

Of course, if it is a certain fourth-order natural treasure that is effective for body refining, it can achieve a breakthrough in a minor realm in a very short time.

But this treasure is extremely precious even to a Nascent Soul cultivator, so how could it easily fall into his hands?

He currently possesses abundant resources, but these resources are only accessible to Core Formation cultivators.

"Next, I will focus on cultivating in peace."

Lin Chang'an then took a deep breath, consumed a Dragon Blood Fruit, and began refining and cultivating it.

……

Time flies like an arrow, and life passes by in a flash.

During these five years, several major events occurred in the outer sea: traces of a transformed demon appeared, Nascent Soul cultivators fought each other, and a group of cultivators from the Azure Sea Palace were slaughtered.

The curtain has been gradually lifted on the turmoil, and the chaos among Core Formation cultivators has become unacceptable.

Many outside cultivators have also come to the remote waters of Five Dragons Island. Although there is some chaos, it is probably because of its remote location.

Furthermore, the combined efforts of the Xuan Yin Pavilion, the Si Hai Chamber of Commerce, and the Long family prevented major unrest.

Meanwhile, in the surrounding seas, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, led by the Xuan Yin Pavilion, has been developing its strength significantly over the past five years.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are constantly emerging, and even Core Formation spiritual objects are being secretly collected by the Seven Kingdoms Alliance in an effort to significantly enhance their strength before the coming turmoil.

Inside the cave on Tianquan Peak, Lin Chang'an sat calmly at his desk, holding his breath and drawing a third-tier spirit talisman with a flourish of his spirit brush.

[Tier 3 High-Grade Talisman Master (Grandmaster 1/5000)]

As Fu Cheng emitted a restrained spiritual light, Lin Chang'an's face revealed a satisfied smile.

"A third-tier high-grade talisman master, I've finally broken through."

In the past, during the inheritance of most of the Yin Soul Sect, I naturally obtained a lot of things related to the various arts of cultivating immortality, and this talisman was among them.

Although he has focused more on formations in recent years, he can learn from others' experiences. Formations are all-encompassing, and the methods of drawing formation patterns and talismans are also interconnected.

"Now that my talismans and formations have both reached the third-tier high-grade level, with this skill, I won't have a bad life no matter which Nascent Soul power I go to."

With a broad smile on his face, Lin Chang'an slowly put down the spirit brush, his aura surging even more powerfully.

[Lifespan: 232/792] [Realm: Mid-Golden Core Stage (71/100)]

"However, as my cultivation level has deepened, my cultivation speed has slowed down."

Lin Chang'an sighed inwardly, realizing that he had only gained eleven experience points in five years, though outsiders would be envious if they knew.

But does he know how many resources he has consumed over the past five years?

It is only natural that he has reached his current level of cultivation.

"There are less than fifty years until the secret realm opens, and there are already signs of unrest outside."

Lin Chang'an thought to himself that he had now cultivated his body refinement to the peak of the early stage of the third rank, and was only one step away from breaking through to the middle stage of the third rank.

With his current cultivation of Dharma, Body, and Spirit, his overall strength, while perhaps not invincible among cultivators of the same level, is enough to crush most late-stage Core Formation cultivators.

Just then, the cave door opened, and the sword attendant respectfully walked in.

"Master, the cultivators from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance have visited several times, saying that the third spirit mine has been mined for two years and they would like to inquire whether it is possible to contact another spirit mine?"

Over the past five years, Lin Chang'an has sold three spirit mines to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance one after another.

He also used this opportunity to obtain a lot of rare resources from the Seven Nations Alliance.

At the same time, he openly crafted formations and other techniques, which means that the Seven Kingdoms Alliance had given him benefits and was extremely grateful to him.

Of course, Lin Chang'an has not only contacted the Seven Kingdoms Alliance over the years, but has also secretly sold several small spirit mines to forces in other sea areas.

He was initially afraid of being suspected, but he never expected that he wasn't the only one with news about the spirit mine.

There are countless cultivators in the Tongtian Mist Sea; what he explored was merely a drop in the ocean.

Two years ago, the Sihai Chamber of Commerce somehow acquired two spirit mines and began mining them by integrating their resources.

This actually made Lin Chang'an secretly relieved, as it reduced the possibility of him being exposed.

"You want a spirit mine too? Do you really think this is the gold and silver treasures of the mortal world?"

However, faced with the greed of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, Lin Chang'an could only shake his head helplessly.

He only has one relatively large spirit mine left.

Human power has its limits.

Even with the assistance of the Yin Spirit Beast King, the Two-Headed Tiger, in his exploration, how could it compare to the exploration of countless cultivators?

"Then, Master, should we return this information about the spirit mine to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance?"

The sword attendant lowered her voice and asked in confusion. Others might not know, but how could she not know? All of this was just a game of passing the buck from one hand to the other, played by her master.

"There's no rush for this last spirit mine. If it were that easy, it would easily arouse suspicion."

Lin Chang'an thought about it for a moment, then shook his head and decided to postpone it for now.

The reserves of this last spirit mine are so large that even with the strength of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, it would only take them at most twenty years to mine it all. It can only be said that this spirit mine is quite precious.

Now that he has no shortage of spirit stones and other common cultivation resources, he might as well use this spirit mine to exchange for a resource that he already possesses.

For example, a wind-attribute demon core at the late stage of the third tier, plus some cultivation materials.

"By the way, Master, the copper ore needs to be escorted..."

Upon hearing the sword attendant's report, Lin Chang'an was not surprised.

Every year or two, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance's spirit ships would transport the mined spirit ore, and a Core Formation cultivator would be assigned to the task.

As a Core Formation cultivator, the Sword Servant was naturally among them.

"Since we're going, let's bring the Green Horned Ox along."

In the past five years, the sword attendant had been responsible for escorting the goods twice, and he received a considerable reward for it, so Lin Chang'an naturally wouldn't stop him.

However, for safety's sake, he still habitually had his sword attendant bring the Green Horned Ox.

With the sword servant's own strength, plus the mid-stage third-tier Green Horned Ox, they would be able to put up a fight even against a late-stage Core Formation cultivator.

……

Bibo Island.

"The Seven Kingdoms Alliance has been developing rapidly recently. I heard they discovered a spirit mine deep in the Tongtian Mist Sea. Damn it!"

Inside the main hall, the Meng couple looked at the recent developments of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, their expressions clearly not good.

"This Lord Lu is really something. We've given him our entire fortune, yet he doesn't care about our disciple Xinghai at all."

The Meng couple felt aggrieved at the thought of this, but facing a Nascent Soul cultivator, they could only grumble in secret and dared not voice any opinion.

However, for Nascent Soul cultivators, the Meng family was in dire straits and could no longer control Bibo Island. The so-called offering of their family business was merely for their own benefit.

Neither party owes the other anything.

In Lu Zhenjun's view, he had at least shown some leniency by allowing the Meng family to remain on Bibo Island.

How could a disciple who receives such benefits possibly become a confidant?

Especially since Meng Xinghai is almost two hundred years old now and is a Core Formation cultivator, even if he sincerely teaches him, how much of this master-disciple relationship is there?
Finally, the couple exchanged a glance and sighed softly. Now, all they could do was leave more legacy for their descendants as they approached the end of their lives.

"How's Xinghai's cultivation going lately?"

"Alas, with the betrayal of Fatty Lei and the others, and the injuries to the two of us, our business as female cultivators has plummeted. Moreover, Xinghai is now in the mid-stage of Core Formation."

Even though this technique of absorbing yin and yang is powerful, it still requires a suitable female cultivator.

When the Meng couple talked about female cultivators who practiced sexual cultivation, they seemed to be used to it.

After all, in the Tongtian Mist Sea, who isn't a heretic or demonic sect?

Moreover, the practice of sexual exploitation does exist within legitimate channels, it's just not openly discussed.

"Xinghai is stronger than both of us in terms of talent and willpower. I only hope that he can break through to the late stage of Core Formation before we leave, so that we can die in peace."

The Meng couple looked like a loving couple.

Meanwhile, inside Meng Xinghai's cave, weak and fearful pleas for mercy echoed.

"Young Master, spare...my life! Please leave me some...some of your magic power..."

On the bed, a Foundation Establishment female cultivator stared wide-eyed, her alabaster skin visibly dry, like a withered tree whose flesh and blood had been drained.

His once black hair turned gray in an instant, losing its former color, and gradually lost its vitality amidst his resentment.

"waste!"

After a while, once the dried-out corpse had been squeezed dry, an angry voice rang out, and the corpse was thrown out with disgust.

At this moment, Meng Xinghai, disheveled on the bed, was a far cry from the refined gentleman he was in public; he now resembled a cold and aloof demonic cultivator.

"Since Bibo Island changed hands, there have been fewer and fewer cauldrons."

Looking at the mummified corpse on the ground, Meng Xinghai's face turned somewhat gloomy.

There are two main reasons for this: firstly, his parents were seriously injured and their lifespans were limited; secondly, the situation on Bibo Island was turbulent, which greatly reduced his business.

Secondly, although Lu Zhenjun is not a righteous person, as a Nascent Soul Elder of Bihai Palace, he should still pay attention to his image.

This resulted in none of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance members engaging in the business of selling cultivators after they settled on Bibo Island, and the Meng family's business shrank drastically.

"They all pretend to be righteous people, but in the end, they kill each other for their own interests. The righteous path is no less than the demonic path."

Meng Xinghai sneered, raised his hand, and sent a fireball flying, turning the mummified corpse to ashes in the flames.

"If I could have a Core Formation furnace, I could break through to the late Core Formation stage in at most twenty years!"

Thinking of this, a resolute look appeared in Meng Xinghai's eyes.

Once his parents pass away, if the Meng family doesn't have a single cultivator at the late Core Formation stage, they will likely be suppressed by the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

　I'll organize my thoughts tonight and see if I can finish the second chapter today. I'll let you know tonight.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)