[Life Span: 52/124]
[Realm: Qi Refining Ninth Layer (18/100)]
In the cultivation cave mansion, as Lin Changâan slowly opened his eyes, a majestic wave of mana emanated from around him, the Supreme Realm Longevity Skill making his mana even more robust and pure.
"A year and a half have passed, and my cultivation speed is faster than I expected."
Since moving to Celestial Profound City, a year and a half had passed. Now Lin Changâan was fifty-two, and six months ago he had already broken through to the Qi Refining Ninth Layer.
This made him feel deeply emotional. If he were still in Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, his breakthrough progress would have been delayed by at least six months.
"I can hardly imagine how dense the spiritual energy would be in the cave mansions of the three Golden Core cultivators."
This is also why powerful cultivators compete for the worldâs spirit veins.
At the same time, over the past year and a half, the situation in Yue Kingdom has stabilized considerably.
He pushed open the pavilion door and walked out of the cave mansion. The view that greeted him was a pond pavilion tower and the Cyan-Horned Bull lounging in the pond enjoying itself.
And beside it was the roaring Yinchuan Waterfall.
"You lazy, silly bull, youâre not even a buffalo."
Coming out to breathe the fresh air and seeing the Cyan-Horned Bull in the pond, Lin Changâan couldnât help but laugh and scold.
"Moo!"
Upon seeing Lin Changâan, the Cyan-Horned Bull emerged from the pond, causing a splash of water, and walked in front of him, lowering its head to affectionately rub against his trouser leg, mooing continuously.
With a smile, Lin Changâan took out two bunches of spirit grass from his storage bag, gently caressing a scar on the bullâs forehead.
The biggest difference between spirit pets and cultivators is trust.
"Having cultivated immortality for thirty-two years, reaching the Qi Refining Ninth Layer at the age of knowing destiny, it was not in vain to walk this path in the Immortal Cultivation Realm."
Standing outside the cave mansion and looking at the bustling Immortal City, he felt a sense of fulfillment.
In less than two years, the prosperity of Celestial Profound City had transformed significantly.
Everywhere were bustling cultivators, coming and going, and there were quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators flying with magical artifacts in the sky.
Now, Celestial Profound City has developed into the strongest independent cultivator city in Yue Kingdom and the surrounding neighboring countries.
It is also known as the Independent Practitioner Sacred Land.
Just among those residing on the large and small peaks behind him, there are hundreds of Foundation Establishment cultivators, not to mention the unknown number of visiting cultivators who have come here to break through Foundation Establishment and then return home in glory.
"Celestial Profound City, built against the mountain and filled with spiritual energy, and connected to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, indeed a supremely endowed geographical location."
While Lin Changâan was contemplating, a commotion suddenly erupted in the distance.
"Look, someone has established their foundation!"
"This is the second successful Foundation Establishment this month."
"You only see the successful Foundation Establishment, but you havenât seen the many failures."
The distant crowd discussed fervently, and Lin Changâan also showed a look of envy.
"Foundation Establishment, huh! I should start preparing as well."
Thinking of Foundation Establishment, Lin Changâanâs eyes showed determination.
Celestial Profound City, as he thought, made it much easier to purchase many Foundation Establishment materials.
After all, when a pond turns into a lake, the circle becomes different. Items that were once priceless now appear occasionally in the lake, although still extremely precious.
"Now, Iâve prepared most of the Foundation Establishment materials, lacking only a few main ingredients, particularly the demon core."
Lin Changâan pondered to himself, the price of a demon core is even more expensive than a Foundation Establishment Pill, given that alchemy inherently has a gambling nature.
Most alchemists can still guarantee two Foundation Establishment Pills per furnace, naturally making demon cores more expensive.
Similarly, purchasing a demon core would easily attract attention.
"To be prudent, I should first purchase an array. If thereâs an opportunity to obtain a demon core, I shouldnât expose it. I should only bring it out to find a Pill Master for refining after reaching Qi Refining Great Perfection."
As for arrays, even those circulated in Celestial Profound City are mostly Tier One lower grade and middle grade. Upper grade arrays require seeking out the two major sects.
"It seems I should visit Yun Yao, the direct disciple of Li Huo Palace."
Since coming to Celestial Profound City, Yun Yao, direct disciple of the Golden Core elder of Li Huo Palace, has become increasingly aloof, rumored to have offended many people, yet no one dares to provoke her.
Nor has she contacted them.
Shen Lie and his wife, along with Wei Buyi and his daughter, rented a courtyard together. Over the past year, Wei Buyi supported the family with alchemy, which wasnât too difficult.
Meanwhile, Shen Lie and his wife resumed their old trade by opening the Gathering Immortals Tower, which was doing quite well.
But what was unexpected was Li Erniu, who persisted in rigorous cultivation over the years, refusing to use a Tier-Breaking Pill to break through, saying that if he couldnât break through in another two years, then he would use it.
"Erniu, that kid, sure has some ambition."
Thinking of Erniu, Lin Changâan shook his head with a smile. Li Erniu, as a son-in-law to the Zhou family, naturally earns more respect for his strength and potential.
Erniu is clearly intending to reach late-stage Qi Refining through his own efforts, and perhaps even glimpse the eighth or ninth layer in later stages.
In contrast to Shen Lie, who, due to previously taking a Tier-Breaking Pill, remains at Qi Refining Seventh Layer to this day.
...
Amid the mountains, at the Yinchuan Waterfall, in front of a peak rich in spiritual energy.
"Lin Changâan requests an audience."
Leaving behind a sound transmission jade talisman, Lin Changâan turned to leave, given that Foundation Establishment cultivators, during regular cultivation, could be in seclusion for several days, or even years at times.
Thus, he left a message, and as he was about to depart, the array formation of the cave mansion slowly opened.
"Didnât expect to come at just the right time today."
Lin Changâanâs face was full of smiles, but as the array opened, two figures appeared; one was the usually aloof Yun Yao, and another unfamiliar voice.
"Senior Sister Miao Yin, your profound cultivation has benefited me greatly, Junior Sister."
"You flatter me, Junior Sister Yun."
Besides Yun Yao, dressed in a white tunic with an heroic demeanor like beautiful peaks, there was also a Foundation Establishment cultivator dressed in gray robes, holding a duster, appearing as a Taoist nun.
As the nun opened her mouth, her voice was like heavenly music.
Miao Yin!
Upon hearing this name, the name Su Miaoyin flashed through Lin Changâanâs mind, his expression suddenly tensing as he respectfully saluted the two.
"Greetings, Seniors."
Rumor had it that Master Lu had three direct disciples, and the second disciple, Su Miaoyin, always wore a Taoist nun (female Taoist) outfit.
Itâs said that this person has reached late-stage Foundation Establishment, mastering thunder skills. Although she often presents herself as a Taoist nun, itâs rumored she possesses an alluring presence, extremely disliking frivolous male cultivators.
"Senior Sister Miao Yin, this is an old friend of mine visiting."
Yun Yao, dressed in a white tunic, spoke, her rare smile exchanged with this person, while the Taoist nun Su Miaoyin listened and nodded lightly at Lin Changâan with a reserved expression.
"I see."
Her voice, ethereal and seemingly able to purify the heart, but when one looks up, her brows and smiles carry natural allure, yet she appears with a duster, maintaining absolute propriety.
A Taoist nun harmonizing propriety and allure together.
Lin Changâan quickly lowered his gaze. This was, after all, a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, with rumors hinting she might actually be Master Luâs daughter, though the truth is unknown.
In front of two Foundation Establishment cultivators, Lin Changâan sensibly stood to the side, observing patiently, until Yun Yao personally saw off the person, her face turning cold once more.
No wonder they say a womanâs face changes so fast.
"Mr. Lin, I have been informed through your sound recording talisman about this Tier One upper grade array, which has always been controlled by sects and major families, not easily entering the market.
But Mr. Lin, your identity is clear, and since you previously assisted in eliminating the remnants of the Demon Cult, I will take you to select an array today."
Yun Yao nodded softly, explaining the situation, and Lin Changâan, understanding, expressed his gratitude with clasped hands.
"Thank you very much."
This isnât Yun Yao making excuses; itâs genuinely hard to buy advanced arrays without connections.
And Yun Yao explained it clearly, asking him to select an array under the guise of a person who has assisted in eliminating the remnants of the Demon Cult, making Lin Changâan nod silently.
It seems Yun Yao intends to maintain a distance from them, but what exactly encountered her?
Under the keen perception of the Supreme Realm Longevity Skill, the yin cold aura within Yun Yao became even more intense, giving him an illusion, as if the person in front of him was a block of millennia-old ice.