Celestial Profound City.
Inside the bustling Immortal City, the pavilions, towers, bridges, and corridors were laid out in an orderly fashion, with flying eaves and upturned corners, carved beams, painted rafters, and intricate and vivid paintings as if alive.
In the center of the Immortal City Market, two towering pavilions stood.
True Treasure Tower and Duo Bao Tower, each representing the iconic buildings of two major sects.
"Mr. Lin."
As soon as he entered the True Treasure Tower, he encountered the old acquaintance Shopkeeper Miao from Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, who, upon seeing Yun Yao bringing him, respectfully greeted him.
"Greetings, Senior."
In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, cultivation is paramount, and upon encountering a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Shopkeeper Miao couldnât help but appear apprehensive.
"Shopkeeper Miao."
Following behind, Lin Changâan smiled and nodded at Shopkeeper Miao. He hadnât expected that after relocating to Celestial Profound City, he would still encounter old acquaintances.
They went directly to the third floor.
"Loose Cultivator Lin Changâan, upper-grade Talisman Master, with a clean background, having assisted the sect in eradicating remnants of the Demon Cult, has now been introduced by me to purchase an array."
Yun Yaoâs cold voice echoed as the welcoming shopkeeper held Lin Changâanâs identity token, displaying an obsequious smile.
"Yes, yes, with Senior Sister Yunâs guarantee, Mr. Linâs identity is, of course, very clear."
Seeing this, Lin Changâan couldnât help but nod secretly. No wonder arrays rarely flow outside; everyone who buys an array undergoes identity verification.
With Yun Yao, a direct disciple of a Golden Core elder from the sect, vouching for him, the third-floor shopkeeper didnât hesitate and cheerfully invited him inside, while Yun Yao went alone to the fourth floor.
"Mr. Lin, what type of array are you looking for? Is it for attack, defense, or perhaps a combination of both?"
Facing the smiling welcome of the thin shopkeeper, Lin Changâan knew this courtesy was entirely due to Yun Yao, so he didnât dare to act proud but responded politely:
"Shopkeeper, I would like a wood attribute array."
Although unfamiliar with arrays, Lin Changâan knew that only characteristics that complemented himself could harness greater power.
"I see. Fellow Daoist, please take a look at the three arrays our True Treasure Tower offers."
With a proud smile on his face, the thin shopkeeper lightly raised his hand, and three large wooden boxes flew over from the restriction behind him.
It was Lin Changâanâs first time seeing a complete array, and he couldnât help but be intrigued.
As the boxes opened, each array had a corresponding number of array discs and array flags, shimmering with spiritual light.
"These three are all Tier One upper-grade wood attribute arrays. Judging by your cultivation, I assume youâre looking to seek demon cores. This first array is both offensive and defensive, with incredible power. The second one..."
With the shopkeeperâs detailed introduction, Lin Changâan realized the utility of the arrays.
But upon listening about these three arrays, Lin Changâan slightly frowned. All three were Tier One upper-grade, formidable yet insufficient for dealing with Tier Two Demon Beasts.
The shopkeeper seemed to notice his thoughts and couldnât help but rub his hands with a slight smile.
"Fellow Daoist, each Tier One upper-grade array is valued around eighteen hundred spirit stones. However, we do have a pseudo-Tier Two array suitable for late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, but the price..."
Seeing the shopkeeper rubbing his hands and smiling, Lin Changâan understood that the shopkeeper was worried about the high cost, but he cautiously inquired:
"What is the price of this pseudo-Tier Two wood attribute trapping array?"
When the shopkeeper raised three fingers, Lin Changâan fell silent.
Upper-grade magical artifacts are priced at about a thousand spirit stones, yet the arrayâs price had doubled.
And this pseudo-Tier Two, frankly, is similar to his Tier One top-grade high-level talisman, using Tier Two materials but not meeting Tier Two standards due to craftsmanship or other issues.
Three thousand spirit stones, which is nearly half of a Foundation Establishment Pill, is something ordinary cultivators canât afford easily.
Preparing for Foundation Establishment is itself quite a drain on spirit stones.
"Three thousand spirit stones!"
With hesitation and gritted determination, Lin Changâan nodded, saying:
"Fortunately, during the purge of the Demon Cult remnants at Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, I sold quite a few spirit stones. But how much is this damaged array worth?"
When Lin Changâan presented the damaged array obtained from defeating Ge Li at the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, the shopkeeper examined it carefully and finally shook his head, saying:
"A Tier One upper-grade array, repairing it is costly, at most worth a thousand spirit stones."
Goodness, hearing that Yun Yaoâs single strike had directly damaged it by eight hundred spirit stones, Lin Changâan felt a pang of heartache. Had he known, he would have asked Yun Yao to hold back a little.
However, arrays are indeed consumables, far more prone to damage than magical artifacts.
"Alright, I have eighteen hundred spirit stones and will use talismans to cover the remaining two hundred spirit stones."
With a look of having been emptied, the shopkeeperâs face was full of smiles, yet there was a hint of envy for Lin Changâanâs good fortune.
Three thousand spirit stones are not something ordinary cultivators can amass easily, but he had exchanged his life for it, so the shopkeeper didnât begrudge him.
"Fellow Daoist Lin, this Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array is incredibly powerful. Here is the manual on its usage and setup precautions. If any damage occurs, our True Treasure Tower offers fair repair prices."
Seeing the introduction of the arrayâs power on the jade scroll, Lin Changâan was secretly amazed. The spirit stones spent were indeed worth it, yet the array wasnât something just anyone could afford to use.
When bought, using magical artifacts only consumes the cultivatorâs mana.
But arrays differ; once set up, the array discs require spirit stone embedding, and each use expends a considerable number of spirit stones.
Moreover, the pseudo-Tier Two array uses Tier Two materials; using lower-grade spirit stones can only achieve seventy to eighty percent of its power, requiring middle-grade spirit stones to unleash its full potential.
"Exchanging for a single middle-grade spirit stone comes at a premium, requiring at least one hundred fifty lower-grade spirit stones."
This means that just using this array once could consume hundreds of lower-grade spirit stones.
"No wonder its power is immense; itâs purely stacked with spirit stones."
Packing the array into his storage bag, just as Lin Changâan was about to leave, a maid respectfully brought a storage bag over.
"Mr. Lin, this is what Uncle Yun entrusted to you, saying she hasnât forgotten the favor of Foundation Establishment back then."
Lin Changâan nodded slightly, accepted the storage bag, and turned to leave.
At that moment, on the fourth floor of the True Treasure Tower, a pair of eyes watched Lin Changâanâs figure disappear, and Yun Yao couldnât help but sigh softly.
Being unable to control circumstances, the high-spiritedness upon entering Foundation Establishment now seemed utterly laughable.
"A Foundation Establishment cultivator is nothing more than a caged bird raised by the powerful."
Turning her gaze sideways, she looked at the flaming gold banners representing the Li Huo Palace within the Immortal City, her eyes growing cold.
...
On his way back to his cave dwelling, when Lin Changâan opened the storage bag Yun Yao had given him, he revealed a look of astonishment.
"Here are eight middle-grade spirit stones, and this jade scroll records Yun Yaoâs insights during her Foundation Establishment."
Though he didnât lack spirit stones, others didnât know that.
What was most precious to him was the Foundation Establishment insights on the jade scroll.
This made Lin Changâan deeply moved. Back when Yun Yao was establishing her Foundation, they fully supported her, and now itâs his turn.
Their past relationship, a spell, and a Tier One upper-grade talisman had already repaid it, and he now stands as Yun Yao once did, seeking Foundation Establishment with everyoneâs help.
"This favor is indeed substantial."
They have known each other for over thirty years, and this relationship, while not tested through hardship and prosperity, is nonetheless rare and valuable.
Although he didnât know what Yun Yao had faced, Lin Changâan knew only Foundation Establishment would allow access to higher circles.
Once he established his Foundation, he wouldnât need Yun Yaoâs endorsement when buying arrays today.
"Now that I have gathered magical artifacts, cultivation, spells, and arrays, and even have a cultivation technique for after Foundation Establishment, itâs time to plan for the demon cores."
At this point, Lin Changâanâs eyes gleamed as he gazed beyond Celestial Profound City toward the mysterious Cloud Mist Mountain Range.
Tier Two Demon Beasts!