Chapter 159 - 127: Blood Shadow Escape (Part 2)

"But we still can’t be careless; we need to prepare more precautionary measures."

Lin Chang’an slowly stood up. Usually relying on talisman painting and alchemy, he exchanged for resources in the market secretly, so he wasn’t lacking in spirit grass and spirit fruit.

The only thing he lacked was crystal cores.

"However, whether it’s the secret realm Yun Yao mentioned in the future or regular outings, it’s best to prepare a spell or a spiritual artifact for escape."

Lin Chang’an did not consider a flying spiritual artifact for now.

In the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, manipulating a flying spiritual artifact was like a beacon in the dark, which was no different from courting death.

Stepping out of the cave, seeing the Cyan-Horned Bull lazily basking in the sun, Lin Chang’an smiled.

"Niu’Er, you’ve rested enough this year; let’s continue on and work hard. In the future, your master will give you a top-grade spiritual artifact armor."

Listening to Lin Chang’an’s enticement, the Cyan-Horned Bull excitedly mooed as it emerged from the pool.

It never considered any spiritual artifact armor; it was simply an instinctual craving for crystal cores etched into its bloodline.

The last trip to the Cloud Mist Mountain Range had already shattered the upper-grade armor on the Cyan-Horned Bull.

Lin Chang’an also planned that after returning this time, he would first equip the Cyan-Horned Bull with a set of armor, which would make hunting demon beasts easier.

"Let’s go."

Lin Chang’an put the Cyan-Horned Bull into the Spirit Beast Bag and then placed the stone inscribed with ’cultivating in seclusion’ outside the cave, to avoid any disturbances.

As for Yun Yao, he had already mentioned it a few days ago.

Yun Yao understood without being told, as she also occasionally disappeared for one or two months to handle her personal affairs.

Every cultivator has their own secrets.

Along the way, after disguising himself, Lin Chang’an left Celestial Profound City, which was too bustling a city for independent cultivators to even stir a ripple.

...

Months later, deep within the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

Perennial faint white fog emitted a warning of death.

Under the harsh sunlight, the white fog shimmered with hues of pale purple or pale green, signaling cultivators that this was the most terrifying miasma in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.

"Moo!"

Deep within the miasma, came an angry bellow of a bull, followed by a rampageous rumbling impact, as if the earth itself was trembling.

Towering ancient trees kept crashing down with the thunderous sounds.

"Moo!"

In the end, amidst the dust, the Cyan-Horned Bull glared fiercely and trampled a venomous insect into pieces.

"You stupid bull, the skin of this venomous insect at least has some value, and now there’s only the crystal core left."

Lin Chang’an emerged from the dust, glaring at the stupid bull.

Every time the bull went berserk, it became heedless.

The reprimanded Cyan-Horned Bull, however, seemed used to it; instead, it licked its face and mooed flatteringly.

Lin Chang’an shook his head as he watched.

Within this toxic miasma, the most common creatures were these fuzzy, soft venomous insects, highly toxic, and apart from the crystal core, the skin was the only somewhat valuable part.

This was also why these were the demon beasts that cultivators least wanted to hunt.

The reason being, they are extremely dangerous and offer little value.

The risks and rewards are utterly disproportionate.

"I really don’t know how these venomous insects grow."

Lin Chang’an shook his head, raised his hand, and used the exorcism technique to extract the crystal core from the venomous insect’s brain. Then he sat on the bull’s back and slowly vanished into the toxic miasma.

All that was left at the original spot was a puddle of green mush, which over time became nourishment for this land.

...

Treasures Tower.

"Mr. Lin, you truly have impressive skills, six sets of Tier Two demon beast materials."

This Foundation Establishment elder, surnamed Feng, nodded approvingly with a smile on his face.

He wasn’t curious about how Lin Chang’an hunted the demon beasts; after all, it was merely six sets of Tier Two initial stage demon beast materials.

He was simply impressed by Mr. Lin’s steadfast resolve, who broke through to Foundation Establishment with the qualification of a low-grade spirit root, yet still persisted in rigorous cultivation.

"Mr. Feng, you flatter me; it’s all thanks to this Niu’Er’s unparalleled strength in the same class of demon beasts."

Lin Chang’an replied with a laugh, while the elder surnamed Feng also smiled and nodded.

With his experience, he could naturally tell that most of the marks on these demon beast materials were caused by the Cyan-Horned Bull’s collisions.

Then, on certain joints and critical weak points, traces of Lin Chang’an’s sword aura remained.

"Mr. Lin, no need to be so modest. Everyone knows how much help a Tier Two spirit pet provides, but how many can actually rear a Tier Two spirit pet?"

The elder surnamed Feng shook his head. It’s easy to buy a spirit pet, but nurturing it to Tier Two is incredibly difficult.

Otherwise, in Celestial Profound City’s most renowned beast-taming Zhou Family, even though they have been continuously expanding over the years, they still only have those few Tier Two spirit pets within their family.

Spirit pets need resources, just like cultivators, and sometimes investment doesn’t necessarily yield returns.

And independent cultivators don’t have that many resources.

Lin Chang’an, a Tier Two middle-grade Talisman Master, also has a Tier Two spirit pet, so achieving such today is normal.

Lin Chang’an smiled and nodded. Just having a Tier Two spirit pet was enough to secure his footing among ordinary Foundation Establishment loose cultivators, and that’s no falsehood.

"I wonder, Mr. Lin, will you exchange all these for cultivation resources this time as well?"

Facing the elder surnamed Feng’s inquiry, Lin Chang’an feigned hesitation for a moment, finally gritting his teeth and saying:

"Mr. Feng, I want to exchange for a spiritual energy armor for Niu’Er."

Seeing Lin Chang’an’s choice, Elder Feng couldn’t help but show a look of approval and nodded:

"Mr. Lin, with sacrifice comes gain; a strong spirit pet will definitely help you go further."

Lin Chang’an’s willingness to invest heavily in his spirit pet at least proved one thing: his steadfast resolve.

Otherwise, for an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator, having a Tier Two spirit pet would be enough, and they would just pour the remaining resources onto themselves.

However, Elder Feng had seen too much in his lifetime; with sacrifice comes gain, it may not always be the right choice, but with such actions, as long as one isn’t too unlucky, they generally tend to go further.