Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans.

Chapter 87 Xuan Turtle Master Lu [Please continue reading]

Tianxuan City.

"Master Lin, the forelimbs of this Ironback Demon Mantis are incredibly sharp, as are its carapace. It's a pity that the materials are a bit scarce. If these forelimbs are fused with your Green Bamboo Sword, Master Lin, they can be upgraded to a top-grade magic weapon."

However, this back armor is incompatible with the black iron shield; it can only be used to create a single defensive magic weapon, and even then, the material is likely only suitable for making one high-grade magic weapon.

Inside the Wuchen Pavilion, a shop under the control of Master Lu of Tianxuan City, Lin Chang'an was discussing weapon crafting with a Foundation Establishment cultivator who specialized in weapon crafting.

"Then I will trouble you, fellow Daoist."

Lin Chang'an smiled and cupped his hands, saying that fortunately, he had collected all the materials after hunting down the Ironback Mantis.

It's a pity it only has one forelimb; otherwise, it would be even more valuable.

"Fellow Daoist, you're too kind. The deposit is one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and the remaining one hundred mid-grade spirit stones will be paid after the matter is completed."

When Lin Chang'an took out the mid-grade spirit stone, he felt a pang of heartache, considering it was for upgrading his magic weapon.

The price of a top-grade magic weapon is over 500 mid-grade spirit stones, and even higher for flying needles.

Because top-grade magical artifacts contain many materials of the level of magical treasures, they are also known as spiritual artifacts.

"A mid-grade spirit stone. I never thought I'd be worrying about spirit stones again."

After leaving Wuchen Pavilion, Lin Chang'an walked along the streets of the market, frowning slightly as he began to calculate how many mid-grade spirit stones he still had and his income.

"An ordinary second-tier low-grade talisman master, without affecting his cultivation and disregarding the cost of talisman making, can only earn five or six mid-grade spirit stones per month, and no more than a hundred per year."

Of course, there are also Foundation Establishment cultivators who specialize in hunting second-tier demonic beasts; the risks are high, but the rewards are also great.

However, most of these cultivators are like people who don't make any business for three years, but then make a living from it for three years.

Those cultivators who possess specialized skills tend to have more stable employment.

His talent is ten times that of other rune masters of the same level, and it is not even his limit yet. However, he has not been a rune master for long. He usually cultivates and secretly refines pills.

Moreover, he was preparing for an auction six months later, intending to purchase a flying needle-type magic weapon, and he didn't have many spirit stones in his storage bag.

"Mid-grade spirit stones are extremely precious to Foundation Establishment cultivators, whether for formations or for restoring mana in critical moments. Therefore, even Foundation Establishment cultivators are reluctant to waste them."

In short, mid-grade spirit stones are strategic resources for Foundation Establishment cultivators and are generally not easily traded.

"However, I can't miss the auction in six months. I'll put aside alchemy for a while and use second-tier talismans to earn some mid-grade spirit stones first."

With the plan in place, Lin Chang'an smiled with relief.

……

As news of Master Lu's injury spread, it attracted countless cultivators to Tianxuan City.

Some people are aiming for the auction six months later, while others want to take the opportunity to muddy the waters.

There were sects from both the Yue Kingdom and neighboring countries, since no one wanted to see a neighboring country develop peacefully.

The uproar caused by Master Lu, a mere rogue cultivator, is truly admirable, making him worthy of the title of the number one rogue cultivator in Yue Kingdom.

Inside the cave.

"You gluttonous water buffalo."

Laughter and playful sounds came from beside the pool. Zhou Bingyun hadn't come over for a long time since she last traded the Beast Spirit Pill at the Zhou family's place.

This was also taken into consideration that Greenhorn Cow needed to make a breakthrough.

Now, seeing the growth of the Green Horned Ox, she was overjoyed. After all, even the Zhou family didn't have many second-tier spirit beasts.

Raising a spirit beast is indeed quite time-consuming and costly. Given the Zhou family's resources, they would naturally prioritize their own members.

"Brother Lin, you have no idea what my uncle is like. He's truly despicable. Back then, he was talented enough to join the Li Huo Palace, and the whole clan provided him with resources. But he turned out to be a traitor..."

Zhou Bingyun angrily shook her small fists, talking about matters within the clan. It was obvious that this person had leaked the Zhou family's secrets.

Meanwhile, inside the pavilion, Lin Chang'an, who was holding a jade slip and reading through it, was impressed by the magical insights he was reading. He raised an eyebrow.

The girl was deliberately telling him this, not only about the misunderstanding about the Beast Spirit Pill last time, but also about how their Zhou family suffered even greater losses, almost losing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

After hearing this, Lin Chang'an smiled and shook his head. This girl was extremely clever and always managed to build rapport and resolve misunderstandings through casual conversation.

"You say he's a member of your Zhou family, but he left his family at a young age and was taught by the sect from a young age. Which side do you think his heart would be with?"

Beneath Lin Chang'an's calm smile, he spoke of a very real problem in the cultivation world.

You may call him a member of the Zhou family, but in his eyes, it was the sect that nurtured him. When the family and the sect are not in conflict, this person is the pride of the family and a backbone of the sect.

But if the two paths diverge, he can only choose one: betray his sect or become an ingrate to his family?
A dilemma!

"Brother Lin."

It was supposed to be a serious topic, but Zhou Bingyun smiled playfully and shook her head, saying:
“This is not to say that the family raised him for so many years, but that this person has asked the family for money quite a bit. Otherwise, my father would not be so angry.”

The fact that even the composed and steady Zhou family head couldn't forget it shows just how precious that rare and exotic beast was.

"However, Brother Lin, recently many foreign cultivators have come to Tianxuan City, and even many rogue cultivators from neighboring countries have flocked here."

Some wanted to catch a glimpse of Master Lu's demeanor, while others hoped to find an opportunity to fish in troubled waters.

When Zhou Bingyun spoke of this matter, her expression was somewhat solemn. Although she did not say it explicitly, she was implying something.

"A Core Formation Spiritual Object!"

Lin Chang'an suddenly realized that it was just like a Qi Refining cultivator facing the temptation of Foundation Establishment.

Master Lu is injured and is planning for his disciple to form his core. If there is any turmoil, is it possible to take advantage of the chaos to obtain this core-forming spiritual item?
Cultivators who can reach the late stage of Foundation Establishment are all quite old, and many of them don't even have much time left if they don't take a chance.

"But is this Master Lu really injured?"

Lin Chang'an was somewhat suspicious. How could the strongest rogue cultivator in Yue Kingdom, who had come all the way to where he was now, so easily reveal the news of his injury?

Could there be some kind of conspiracy involved?

Inside the pavilion, Lin Chang'an frowned slightly, pondering the impending turmoil that Tianxuan City was about to face, while Zhou Bingyun playfully groomed the Green Horned Ox's fur by the pool.

……

At this moment, inside Master Lu's cave in Tianxuan City.

“Master, recently quite a few late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from neighboring countries have arrived.”

"Not only that, the Li Huo Palace is secretly stirring things up. It's obvious that the three major sects don't want our junior sister to form her core in six months."

Wu Yan, the eldest disciple of Xuan Gui Lu Zhenren, had a rugged face and a fierce aura between his brows. At this moment, he looked worried about his junior sister.

Meanwhile, Song Tingfeng, the third disciple, with a hint of hidden admiration in his eyes as he looked at his second senior sister, nodded and said:

"Yes, Master. Senior Sister's Core Formation is of utmost importance. Should we return to Abyss City to plan for it later?"

The second disciple, Su Miaoyin, remained silent throughout. The two fellow disciples were already used to the way their master interacted with this junior sister (senior sister).

"What kind of place is Abyss City? It's surrounded by tigers and wolves, and even I dare not say I can protect myself there."

Master Lu, seated at the head of the table, let out a cold snort. His eyes, weathered by time, were filled with the marks left by years.

Now he looks quite old, as if he has less than a hundred years left to live.

"I am not dead yet. There are still Xuan Shui Turtles in Tianxuan City. They are just a bunch of clowns."

Master Lu's calm voice echoed as he waved his hand, and the two disciples respectfully bowed and left. Su Miaoyin, who remained alone in the cave, calmly gazed at her master, or rather, her father.

Once no one else was around, Master Lu revealed a mocking smile.

“Miaoyin, in the cultivation world, strength has always been paramount. When you are even slightly weak, people will come to bully you. Look at me, even though I am still here, so many clowns have already appeared.”

Below, Su Miaoyin, dressed as a Taoist nun, nodded calmly.

"Master has planned everything since returning to Yue Kingdom. First, he pretended to be injured to give the illusion that his lifespan was not long enough. Then he spread the news that I was going to form my core. Master's Dao heart is really as firm as ever."

If any other Foundation Establishment cultivator had spoken to him like that, he would have been furious long ago, but he remained silent in the face of this daughter who addressed him as her master.

When he was injured and his cultivation level dropped, he pretended to be a rogue cultivator and joined the Su family for refuge. He found common ground with the eldest daughter of the Su family, but he never expected that after their separation, she would give birth to a daughter.

By the time he learned of the Su family's misfortune, Su Miaoyin had already been living in exile and had experienced the hardships of being a wandering cultivator.

In the end, it was Master Lu, the number one rogue cultivator in Yue Kingdom, who was defeated and waved his hand helplessly, saying:
"Alright, let's see how many wicked people we can catch this time. Go down and prepare yourself. Although your spiritual root aptitude is not bad, it is not as good as that girl from Xuan Yin Pavilion. It is not the critical moment for you to break through to the Golden Core stage yet."

"Only after completely refining the elixir within my body and cleansing and elevating my spiritual root to the level of an earth-root can I have an 80-90% chance of forming my core."

Master Lu of the Mysterious Turtle Sect has always been cautious, and he presents himself to the outside world as being in the mid-stage of Core Formation. Even his daughter, Su Miaoyin, does not know that his cultivation level is already at the peak of Core Formation.

Although he had great ambitions upon returning this time, he could not stand idly by and watch his daughter achieve the Golden Core stage at will.

The path to immortality is long and arduous, but having a family member accompany him on his journey brings a touch of warmth to his lonely heart.

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