Chapter 67: Preparing for the Hunt

Inside the cave residence.

Under the operation of the ’Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array’, vines continuously emerged, frantically entangling and binding. Lin Chang’an hurriedly controlled his Cyan Bamboo Sword to slash swiftly or dodge quickly.

"No wonder it’s a quasi-Tier Two array. The vines are exceptionally tough. Although a top-grade Magical Artifact can cut them, it consumes a lot of mana, and as long as the array is intact, these vines are almost endless.

Moreover, within the array, the one who sets it up can cast Wood Attribute Spells at a reduced cost, while their power is enhanced..."

Familiar with the array, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but marvel. With lower grade Spirit Stones, the quasi-Tier Two array already possessed such power. He could only imagine the might of a Tier Two array driven by middle grade Spirit Stones.

"Trapped in this array, one would face endless entanglement by vines until mana and stamina are exhausted. Of course, although this single attribute array is powerful, it is also easily countered."

"Firstly, the array is countered by fire and metal spells, reducing its power. Also, the array needs to be set up in advance, meaning you have to lure demon beasts into the array, lacking the flexibility comparable to a Magical Artifact."

Even the location where the array is set up matters—if placed in a rocky desert area, its power naturally diminishes; but in a forested area, its effectiveness is enhanced.

Since purchasing the array two months ago, Lin Chang’an made it a daily routine to familiarize himself with its operation, of course, using only lower grade Spirit Stones to activate it.

After two months, he finally achieved seamless operation.

...

On this day, Shen Lie arrived with a face full of excitement.

"Brother Lin, there’s news about the Spirit-Protecting Grass you wanted."

Spirit-Protecting Grass is one of the main ingredients for refining Foundation Establishment Pills. With his cultivation at the ninth layer of Qi Refining, Lin Chang’an had been preparing for Foundation Establishment over the years, a fact that could hardly be kept secret from others.

For Shen Lie, who runs a restaurant, his information network was naturally the most efficient, and Lin Chang’an had previously asked him to keep a lookout.

"Two cultivators, finding it hard to acquire materials, decided to gather the materials together for alchemy. When checking the materials, they found that a few materials, including Spirit-Protecting Grass, were superfluous and repetitive."

With Shen Lie’s enthusiastic explanation, Lin Chang’an suddenly understood.

For regular cultivators, gathering all the materials on their own was exceedingly difficult, and when asking someone to refine Foundation Establishment Pills, usually only about two pills can be produced from a furnace.

Therefore, many cultivators, after gathering most of the materials, would look for others and make agreements in advance—essentially a crowdfunding of sorts for alchemy.

If luck was poor and only one Foundation Establishment Pill was produced, the matter would then be negotiated.

In most cases, the cultivator who contributed the most materials would get the pill, then compensate the other party with some Spirit Stones or the like.

Yet, even producing two Foundation Establishment Pills did not guarantee two Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

"Which Pill Master is refining the pills?"

Though there was a lead on Foundation Establishment materials, Lin Chang’an cautiously inquired further. He wasn’t unnecessarily prudent; it was simply that any cultivator preparing for Foundation Establishment was an easy target to be watched.

Shen Lie naturally understood and responded:

"It’s Pill Master Song, considered an experienced Tier Two Pill Master, known for his excellent craftsmanship. He’s affiliated with Celestial Profound City’s pill master tributor and not tied to the two sects. Within less than two years, he’s opened six furnaces for Foundation Establishment Pills, all successful."

With Master Lu of the Profound Tortoise sitting in Celestial Profound City, he naturally formed a strong presence, having gathered numerous tributors.

"I see."

Listening to Shen Lie’s introduction, Lin Chang’an nodded quietly. This Pill Master Song’s skills were indeed exceptional; in under two years, he had successfully opened six furnaces for Foundation Establishment Pills, without a single mishap.

...

[Danxin Residence]

When Lin Chang’an and Shen Lie arrived outside Pill Master Song’s cave residence, they couldn’t help but nod with approbation at the beautiful pagoda-like structure and the picturesque scene complemented by its plaque.

This Pill Master Song truly lived in a pleasant abode.

"Fellow Daoists, this here is Talisman Master Lin," introduced Shen Lie. At that moment, two cultivators outside the cave residence smiled and nodded upon seeing Lin Chang’an.

After all, they too were ninth layer Qi Refining cultivators preparing for Foundation Establishment—none could say for certain who among them might become a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in the future, so they naturally did not want to offend easily.

"Greetings to you both, fellow Daoists."

Lin Chang’an graciously greeted them, and for a moment, the three addressed each other as fellow daoists with mutual respect.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, we two are awaiting Pill Master Song to adjust to the optimal state, so we won’t say much more."

"Naturally, for you two, achieving Foundation Establishment is the important matter."

Lin Chang’an nodded with a smile, whereupon the two took out their Foundation Establishment materials.

"These materials are ones that we two have superfluously gathered."

A sturdy man nodded as he spoke, while another scholar-like cultivator sighed with a shake of his head, saying:

"With our qualifications and age, if we fail this time, there won’t be another chance. Therefore, these materials are useless, better to exchange them for some Spirit Stones."

"The Spirit-Protecting Grass, Cyan Beard Vine, and Rainbow Grass—I want these three."

Lin Chang’an didn’t hesitate. The Spirit-Protecting Grass was the one he lacked; he already had the other two. Nonetheless, it was never a mistake to prepare additional materials.

If anything unexpected happened, he’d have to gather them all over again.

"These three Foundation Establishment materials—five hundred Spirit Stones will do."

The transaction between the parties was quick and smooth. Having obtained the materials, Lin Chang’an gave the two a look of envy and extended his hand in a gesture of blessing.

"Today, I am fortunate to share in the good fortune of you two fellow daoists. I wish you success in ascending to Foundation Establishment."

Faced with Lin Chang’an’s blessings, the two also showed smiles and nodded.

At this moment, nobody dislikes hearing words of good omen.

Just as they concluded their transaction, the cave residence’s array slowly opened.

"Bring the Foundation Establishment materials inside; I have adjusted well and am now ready to begin alchemy."

An elderly man with childlike features and a robust figure stepped out of Danxin Residence, his body exuding mana, revealing him as a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

"Pill Master Song."

Lin Chang’an and the others all bowed in salutation and finally watched as the two Foundation Establishment-preparing cultivators entered.

"Brother Lin, don’t envy; I believe you’ll soon achieve it too."

After everyone entered and the array closed, Shen Lie spoke with a trace of longing.

For his lifetime, he didn’t dare hope for Foundation Establishment. He only sought to increase his cultivation by a level or two in the next two years; reaching the ninth layer of Qi Refining was too much to ask, but he could strive for the eighth layer.

"Then I will take advantage of Brother Shen’s blessing."

Lin Chang’an smiled and nodded, while also learning from the conversation the cost of employing Pill Master Song for alchemy.

"The two fellow Daoists from earlier were brimming with mana; they are clearly at the Qi Refining Ninth Level Perfection Realm, whereas I am only at the beginning of the Ninth Layer. I should seclude myself and cultivate, striving to reach perfection early."

With humility, Lin Chang’an waved his hand, truly needing some extra time for cultivation.

As the two parted, Shen Lie watched Lin Chang’an’s retreating figure, pondering deeply.

"Though Brother Lin is a Talisman Master, gaining Foundation Establishment is extremely hard for a loose cultivator. Maybe I should return and discuss it with Qingqing."

The biggest difference when funding Yun Yao was her top-grade Spirit Root, giving her a high chance of successful Foundation Establishment.

Whereas for Lin Chang’an, a loose cultivator with a low-grade Spirit Root, his outstanding skill in Talisman Art was remarkable, but his journey to Foundation Establishment was conspicuously challenging.

Yet Lin Chang’an, having just broken through to the ninth layer of Qi Refining, declared to the outside world his intention to seclude himself for several months for cultivation.

In secret, he disguised himself, employing the ’Breath Concealment Technique’ he painstakingly cultivated to the Perfect Realm, and masqueraded as a seventh layer Qi Refining cultivator, leaving Celestial Profound City.

Heading towards the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.