Chapter 105: Killing a Foundation Establishment Seed

One day.

Li Chang’an held a Talisman Brush, sitting cross-legged behind a desk.

His face was slightly pale, and fine beads of sweat dotted his forehead. An indescribable fatigue shrouded his mind.

But his hand holding the brush was still steady, leaving one Spirit Pattern after another on the Talisman Paper.

An unknown amount of time passed.

It felt like a mere instant, yet also like a thousand years.

His brush hand paused, and a look of joy appeared on his face.

"I finally did it!"

On the desk lay a completed Talisman.

A Tier Two Low Grade Talisman, the Wind Transformation Talisman!

This was an escape-type Talisman, the kind Li Chang’an was best at.

Successfully creating it meant that Li Chang’an had officially crossed the threshold to become a Tier Two Talisman Master!

"From this day forward, I can be considered a Tier Two Talisman Master."

Li Chang’an smiled and wiped the sweat from his forehead.

He had to admit, reaching this stage had been far from easy.

Even with his formidable Spiritual Power and the help of the Profound Water Turtle Borrowing Technique, he had still failed countless times.

In the process, he had wasted countless materials.

But now that he had succeeded, it was all worth it!

’The Wind Transformation Talisman. Once activated, the user can transform into a gentle breeze and move with the wind. It’s one of the best Tier Two Low Grade Talismans for escaping.’

Li Chang’an picked up the Talisman and examined it closely, his eyes filled with satisfaction.

This Talisman was a new starting point for his Talisman Dao.

’Next, I’ll try a more difficult Talisman.’

Several types of Talismans that could release Sword Qi instantly came to Li Chang’an’s mind.

His strongest offensive technique right now was a Sword Array formed from Talismans.

The Sword Array formed from nine Profound Sword Talismans was powerful enough to be considered invincible below Tier Two.

And the Profound Sword Talisman was merely a High-quality Top Grade Talisman.

’If I formed a Sword Array with nine Tier Two Talismans, how astonishing would its power be?’

Just thinking about it filled Li Chang’an with anticipation.

...

「One month later.」

Li Chang’an’s skill with Tier Two Talismans had grown more mature.

His success rate had already risen to over thirty percent!

During this time, he had drawn more than ten types of Tier Two Low Grade Talismans.

There were some for escaping, as well as for attacking and defending.

Among them, the one with the greatest killing power was a Talisman called the Blood Sword Talisman.

According to the description in his inheritance, once this Talisman was activated, it would release a terrifying blood-colored Sword Qi that posed a threat even to Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

’It’s time to test a Sword Array with the Blood Sword Talismans.’

Filled with anticipation, Li Chang’an went out into the courtyard.

To be safe, he did not use nine Talismans right away. Instead, he first activated three Blood Sword Talismans, attempting to form the most basic Three Swords Array.

VMMMM—

The three Blood Sword Talismans ignited in unison, transforming into three astonishing streams of blood-colored Sword Qi.

In an instant, Sword Intent filled the entire courtyard.

The Sword Array had yet to fully form, but Li Chang’an was already terrified, feeling as if he would be torn apart by the horrifying power.

’This seems difficult to control.’

Li Chang’an immediately entered the Borrowed State, struggling to maintain the Magic and allow the Sword Array to fully form.

He took a deep breath, looking at the completed Sword Array, but did not unleash it.

This was because he suddenly had a premonition: if he unleashed this terrifying Blood-colored Sword Array, the Thundercloud Annihilation Array might not be able to withstand it.

’A Sword Array made of just three Blood Sword Talismans is this terrifying.’

Li Chang’an understood that this was already on the level of Foundation Establishment Techniques!

This Blood-colored Sword Array might even pose a fatal threat to Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

Of course, this was only his speculation. After all, he didn’t dare find a Foundation Establishment Cultivator to test it on.

’The more powerful Six Swords and Nine Swords Formations are simply too difficult for me to control with my current strength. If I force it, I’ll likely suffer a backlash.’

Li Chang’an mused.

’For me, the Three Swords Array is already enough. As long as I don’t provoke a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, my life basically won’t be in danger.’

’Next, I need to practice more with this Blood-colored Sword Array to ensure I don’t make any mistakes when using it.’

Li Chang’an made up his mind.

For some time after that, he continuously drew Blood Sword Talismans and would occasionally go out into the courtyard to practice the Blood-colored Sword Array.

Both his proficiency in Talisman Painting and his control over the Sword Array steadily improved.

...

One day.

At Midnight.

A golden light appeared before Li Chang’an.

[Divination has been refreshed]

[Today’s Divination: Auspicious]

[The Zheng Qian you control is summoned by Zheng Lingfeng, who orders you to deliver a Treasure to a designated location outside the Marketplace]

[After you arrive, you discover that the one receiving the Treasure is the Cao Family’s Young Master, Cao Shaolin. You immediately use a Sword Array to kill him and obtain the main ingredient for the Foundation Establishment Pill, Purple Jade Ginseng, from his Storage Pouch]

"Purple Jade Ginseng?"

Li Chang’an’s eyes widened.

Among the three main ingredients of the Foundation Establishment Pill, the Purple Jade Ginseng was the one that targeted the Magic Power Barrier.

He had been having Xu Fugui and Chu Daniu keep an eye out for it, but unfortunately, it was always pre-ordered by someone else, making it impossible to buy!

And now, one had appeared in the Divination!

What’s more, the one who possessed the Purple Jade Ginseng was none other than Cao Shaolin, the very person who had once tried to kill him.

’Cao Shaolin is the Cao Family’s Foundation Establishment Seed, so he must have life-saving measures gifted to him by the Cao Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor. Ordinary Tier One techniques are likely useless against him. Fortunately, I’ve mastered a Tier Two Sword Array.’

Li Chang’an thought to himself.

He had killed many opponents, but this would be the first time he prepared to kill a Foundation Establishment Seed.

He had to be extremely cautious.

’Since the Divination shows it’s auspicious, it means I can kill him. I just have to run for it right after I’m done.’

...

「The next morning.」

Just as predicted, Zheng Lingfeng summoned Zheng Qian into the Hundred Affairs Hall.

"Zheng Qian, take this item to the ’Clear Heart Pond’ outside the Marketplace. Someone will be there to retrieve it. Make sure you deliver it. Don’t disappoint me!"

As he spoke, he handed over a Jade Box.

During this period, he hadn’t noticed anything wrong with Zheng Qian and still treated him as a trusted confidant.

"Yes, Second Young Master, rest assured!"

Zheng Qian put on a solemn expression and carefully placed the Jade Box into his Storage Pouch.

He then took his leave and turned to walk out of the Hundred Affairs Hall.

Zheng Lingfeng watched his departing figure, a flash of annoyance in his eyes.

"That Cao Shaolin is such a coward. He failed just once, and now he doesn’t even dare bring his Puppet Body into the Marketplace. Otherwise, why would we need to go through all this trouble."

After the failure at the Treasure Division Tower, Cao Shaolin, fearing he would be discovered by the Zheng Family’s Foundation Establishment Ancestor, never again set foot in the Qinghe Marketplace.

In his own words, once he reached Foundation Establishment, he would fight his way in openly and honorably!

...

Not long after.

Li Chang’an, controlling Zheng Qian, walked out of the Qinghe Marketplace.

With a thought, he took the Jade Box from the Storage Pouch and opened it. A look of joy immediately appeared in his eyes.

Inside the box was a blood-red fruit that looked just like a heart.

’A Blood Heart Fruit, a Treasure needed for the Ninth Stage of Body Refining! Could it be that Cao Shaolin is also a Body Refinement practitioner?’

Li Chang’an speculated.

Of course, the Blood Heart Fruit could also be used in Alchemy; it wasn’t exclusively for Body Refinement.

About an hour later.

Li Chang’an arrived at the location of the Clear Heart Pond.

The pond’s water was dark and unfathomably deep.

Cao Shaolin was sitting cross-legged on a rock by the pond. He glanced at Li Chang’an with a cold look in his eyes.

"You must be Zheng Qian, right? Bring the item to me now."