Chapter 159 : Old Lin! Help me!

Chapter 159: Old Lin! Help me!

After the beast tide broke out, the Tianxuan City Grand Formation was activated.

The terrifying formation made the three third-rank demon beasts extremely wary. They dared not approach Tianxuan City at all and instead drove countless demon beasts from the shadows to launch assaults.

Tianxuan City was built among the mountains. What was once a beautiful immortal-like landscape of mountains had now turned into a battlefield where demon beasts fought and prowled.

The intelligence of third-rank demon beasts was no weaker than ordinary cultivators. They knew how to use the beast tide to wear down the energy of Tianxuan City’s grand formation.

Thus, although the city formation was activated, it was not fully opened. After all, this beast tide would not end in just a month or two.

Tianxuan City naturally did not wish to waste its strength so recklessly. It would only fully activate the grand formation in times of true danger or when a third-rank demon beast appeared.

Therefore, in the mountains outside the city walls, everywhere was filled with squads of cultivators battling demon beasts.

“Turns out the protective formation of the city covers such a vast range.”

The protective formation of Tianxuan City was not limited to the city walls but constructed according to the spiritual veins of the surrounding land.

“Master Lin, I’ve just hunted some demon beast materials. This hide could be tanned into excellent second-rank talisman paper…”

A Foundation Establishment cultivator who had just returned from hunting approached with a smile, seemingly offering him beast materials generously, though in reality it was an exchange for supplies.

“Fellow Daoist Tian, I only have two hands. Recently, the stock of talismans I had for sale has nearly run out.”

“Hehe, who doesn’t know that Master Lin, along with a few Daoist friends, runs a black market? Your connections and means are unmatched.”

The flattery made Lin Chang’an smile faintly, shaking his head as if in denial. He then lowered his voice and transmitted,

“Fellow Daoist Tian, there are indeed some supplies left in the black market. What is it you need?”

“Fellow Daoist Lin, could you procure more second-rank defensive or escape talismans, as well as some second-rank healing and detoxification pills? I’m willing to pay extra spirit stones.”

“Fellow Daoist Tian, what are you saying? In our business, credibility comes first—we won’t raise prices unfairly. But in the future, if you come across anything good, don’t forget me.”

“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Lin, I will remember this kindness.”

After their transaction, Fellow Daoist Tian revealed gratitude on his face.

Lin Chang’an also nodded with a faint smile. What he said about resources in the black market was no lie.

Taking advantage of the current chaos, the talismans and pills he secretly drew and refined had earned him a fortune.

More importantly, he gained connections.

Connections, though unseen and intangible, should not be underestimated. For years he had maintained goodwill with others and befriended the two disciples of Master Lu, preserving valuable ties.

After establishing the black market, many cultivators gave him face and came to support his business. From this alone, he had already earned countless spirit stones.

“Another profit made.”

Looking at the beast materials and spirit stones he had gained, Lin Chang’an nodded secretly.

No wonder so many were fond of profiting from war—it was indeed the fastest way to gain wealth.

During this time, many clans also secretly purchased beast materials.

After all, once the tide passed, there would no longer be such an opportunity.

…

Half a year later.

The cultivators of Tianxuan City were all exhausted. None had expected this beast tide to last so long.

Some cultivators sharply sensed something unusual.

“In the history of the Seven Kingdoms, beast tides have occurred before, but they usually lasted half a month, at most three to five months.

This time, the beast tide against Tianxuan City has clearly been abnormal, lasting a full half year.”

On the city walls, holding an ancient text, Lin Chang’an pondered silently.

Was someone behind this? Or had something happened deep within the Yunwu Mountain Range?

This beast tide had indeed tied up Tianxuan City’s strength, but at the same time, it brought an endless supply of beast materials.

This allowed Xuanyin Pavilion to barely breathe a sigh of relief.

Since losing their Chief Elder, Xuanyin Pavilion had declined significantly.

They were also deeply anxious that Tianxuan City still had not produced a Core Formation cultivator.

If this went on, Xuanyin Pavilion would be completely depleted.

“Alas, who knows when this war in the Yue Kingdom will end.”

Inside his cave abode, Lin Chang’an shook his head. While others handled the frontlines, he contributed from the rear.

“The Thunderclap Talisman is extremely powerful in terms of offense, especially against sinister baleful energy—it is simply a natural nemesis.”

With one smooth stroke, he completed a quasi–third-rank Thunderclap Talisman that faintly flickered with lightning, revealing a satisfied smile.

“The greatest benefit of this beast tide is that beast materials have never been this abundant. Even quasi–third-rank beast materials that I had never seen before are appearing now.”

Over the past six months, Lin Chang’an had amassed great wealth and exchanged it for over a dozen quasi–third-rank talisman papers.

On the side of the table, there was already a thick stack of sorted second-rank high-grade talismans.

With the abundance of beast materials, many resources had grown cheaper, but talismans, artifacts, and pills had not decreased in price—in fact, some had even risen.

This allowed technical cultivators like Lin Chang’an to earn handsomely.

“The greatest gain these six months has been the breakthrough in the Killing Origin Sword Art.”

【Killing Origin Sword Art (Perfect 182/10000)】

Looking at the Attribute Panel, Lin Chang’an smiled with satisfaction. With a wave of his hand, the top-grade spirit artifact, the Azure-scaled Sword, appeared.

The sword radiance it emitted was noticeably stronger than before, making Lin Chang’an nod in approval.

“The sword radiance now rivals that of late Foundation Establishment sword cultivators. Especially when ignoring physical strain, its power can increase fivefold.

Cultivators who practice this demonic secret art cannot normally sustain it. But with my Regenerative Body, I can fight prolonged battles without worry.”

At the Grandmaster stage, the sword radiance could at most triple in power. But after breaking through to the Perfect stage, its power rose to fivefold.

At this moment, Lin Chang’an calculated inwardly. If he went all out, his combat strength already rivaled that of some peak Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Of course, those peak cultivators also had their life-saving trump cards.

But while others relied on desperate measures, with his Regenerative Body, he could turn such desperation into his norm.

“In a battle of endurance, I can wear down any peak Foundation Establishment cultivator to death.”

Although only in mid Foundation Establishment, Lin Chang’an’s strength was not to be underestimated.

“Of course, there is still one premise—so long as I don’t encounter a cultivator who restrains me.”

His baleful sword radiance was restrained by lightning and, to some degree, by fire—though not as severely as lightning.

“There are still weaknesses. Only by becoming a Core Formation cultivator can I cultivate the divine abilities of this ancient art.”

Lin Chang’an sighed with envy. The ancient era was unlike the present.

These ancient arts were mostly foundations in the early stages, with no powerful divine abilities until the Core Formation stage.

Fortunately, the Killing Origin Sword Art supplemented his shortcomings during the Foundation Establishment stage.

“More than half a year has passed, and this beast tide is no longer so terrifying. Cultivators are already counterattacking—I should go out and see for myself.”

Lin Chang’an put away his talismans, stepped out of the cave abode, gathered his chattering Wind-Chirp Bird into the Spirit Beast Pouch, mounted his Green-Horned Ox, and headed outside the city.

Over these years, with cultivator counterattacks, they had retaken all spiritual veins within a hundred miles of Tianxuan City.

Temporary strongholds were also established everywhere to drive away beasts.

Each of these strongholds was protected by second-rank formations provided by Tianxuan City and Xuanyin Pavilion.

During these six months, Master Lu had appeared, but the three third-rank demon beasts were cunning. Having sensed the aura of the third-rank Blackwater Turtle, they slipped away, leaving Master Lu helplessly returning to Tianxuan City.

Yet those observant noted that Master Lu had grown more aged.

This made many in Tianxuan City increasingly anxious.

The beast tide itself was not terrifying—as long as the protective formation and the late third-rank Blackwater Turtle were present, people would not panic.

What the rogue cultivators feared most was Tianxuan City being left without successors, breaking its inheritance.

Without Tianxuan City, within the Seven Kingdoms, rogue cultivators would never find a better cultivation ground.

…

At this time, Lin Chang’an rode his Green-Horned Ox toward one of the strongholds outside Tianxuan City.

These second-line cultivators regularly escorted supplies, while he also took the chance to sell resources.

“Fellow Daoist Shen, Fellow Daoist Wei, you truly did not need to come.”

Among the accompanying team, Lin Chang’an, as a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, was clearly the leader.

But this time, among those present were the nearly eighty-year-old Shen Lie and Wei Buyi.

Both of them were simply too worried for their children.

“Brother Lin, we didn’t want this either, but our children, Bingbing and Yingying, are at the frontlines.”

Shen Lie sighed helplessly. As parents, they always had to worry about everything.

Beside him, Wei Buyi coldly snorted with a stiff mouth and said,

“We cultivators—without experiencing storms and hardships, how can we talk about the future? How did we get here back then? Have you forgotten?”

Facing Wei Buyi, Shen Lie always yielded half a head lower. After all, in the future, all of his family’s assets would end up under the surname Shen.

Letting this Wei fellow have his say and take a little advantage in words was nothing.

Shen Lie understood this perfectly in his heart. He even wished the other could be more at ease, so it would be easier to accumulate more spirit stones for the Shen Family later.

Watching the two bicker, Lin Chang’an shook his head. In the first half of his life, Wei Buyi argued with Erniu; in the latter half, he argued with Shen Lie.

This Old Wei—thinking about it carefully, he truly had toiled in vain for a lifetime.

No wonder he always repeated that phrase—it was nothing but making wedding clothes for others.

“Ah, Erniu has been living quite well these years. A Foundation Establishment cultivator of the Li Family—tsk, tsk, just hearing it makes people envious.”

Wei Buyi’s tone turned mocking and sarcastic. Beside him, Shen Lie only gave a bitter smile.

Riding on his Green-Horned Ox, Lin Chang’an only shook his head inwardly.

That was Erniu’s personal matter; he made no comment.

After Li Yifan brought Erniu back to the clan with father’s prestige benefiting the son, several of his other children also reverted their surnames back to Li.

Over these past two years, some of Li Family’s children had indeed grown arrogant.

Moreover, despite his age, Li Erniu had even taken several concubines, as if determined to strive another few decades to revive the Li Family.

“Enough, don’t be sour. If you had a Foundation Establishment daughter, you’d be just as proud.”

Shen Lie glared at Wei Buyi, as if to say, “In front of Brother Lin, that’s enough.”

Wei Buyi, always straightforward, regretted his words after saying them. He fell silent, lowering his head along the way.

Shen Lie shook his head, then looked toward Lin Chang’an, lowering his voice apologetically, “Brother Lin, Old Wei just has this temper. Please forgive him.”

Lin Chang’an chuckled lightly and shook his head, not taking it to heart.

“We’re almost there. Everyone be careful—the area ahead is where demon beasts often appear.”

“Yes, Senior Lin / Master Lin.”

Among the group, some addressed him as Senior Lin, others as Master Lin.

Rumble!

At that moment, the ground shook violently in the distance, and the formation at the stronghold flashed with light.

“Not good, a demon beast attack! Quickly, to the stronghold!”

With booming explosions and bestial roars, Lin Chang’an’s expression changed. He slapped the Green-Horned Ox, and man and beast alike became vigilant.

The others in the group also grew tense, rushing swiftly toward the stronghold.

“The second-rank formation barrier has a breach—damn it, that quasi–third-rank demon beast from yesterday has come again!”

“Old Hu!”

“Everyone be careful, this one’s a fat bird!”

When Lin Chang’an and the others arrived at the stronghold, they saw a fire-spewing bird with wings spanning three zhang.

Inside the Spirit Beast Pouch, the Wind-Chirp Bird stirred restlessly, and Lin Chang’an gently calmed it.

“All right, I know you’re at a critical point in your breakthrough. You need a fire-attribute demon core, but no rush—there will be plenty of chances.”

The Wind-Chirp Bird was growing rapidly; in just a few short years, it was almost catching up to the Green-Horned Ox.

No wonder even the usually cautious Zhou Family had risked capturing it.

“Damn it, flying-type demon beasts are truly troublesome.”

Old Hu, Yun Yao, Ghost Three Blades, He Yan, Li Yifan, Zhou Bingyun, along with two other unfamiliar Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Eight Foundation Establishment cultivators guarded this stronghold, including one at late Foundation Establishment.

Such a force was by no means weak.

With the aid of the formation, even resisting a quasi–third-rank demon beast was no issue—but the problem was this one happened to be the most troublesome kind: a flying beast.

“Damn it, this beast is ferocious! Everyone, focus on defense—we’ll wear it down!”

Eight Foundation Establishment cultivators joined forces, and with the formation’s power, the battle grew fierce.

Dealing with one flying beast was enough, but these demon birds were flock creatures—a whole group of fiery birds had the cultivators struggling to cope.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, please lend us your aid!”

At that moment, Yun Yao, her face veiled to conceal her identity, spotted Lin Chang’an approaching from afar and revealed joy.

Others did not know Lin Chang’an’s true strength, but she knew better than anyone.

With his full power and a top-grade spirit artifact, he was definitely not weaker than late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

“Master Lin? What can a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator do?”

One of the Foundation Establishment mid-stage cultivators sighed helplessly. Such cultivators, proficient in crafts, often had combat power inferior to their peers.

“Brother Lin, be careful!” Zhou Bingyun shouted in warning.

“Brother Lin, take care of yourself!”

Old Hu also saw Lin Chang’an charging in on his Green-Horned Ox, exclaiming in alarm.

After all, there was a quasi–third-rank demon beast present. In his mind, Lin Chang’an, long engaged in talisman drawing at the rear and only occasionally hunting beasts, might not be as battle-tested as himself.

Yet who could have expected!

At that instant, the Green-Horned Ox bellowed and charged like a wild bull.

Lin Chang’an raised his hand, and several baleful sword beams shot forth like thunder, striking at the two second-rank flying beasts accompanying the quasi–third-rank demon bird.

One of them had its wings severed instantly by the sudden sword beam. The bird shrieked, spraying scalding blood across the sky.

Such thunderous action, felling a second-rank flying beast in an instant, left the Foundation Establishment cultivator who had belittled him staring wide-eyed.

Old Hu was dumbfounded as well—Old Lin had hidden this deeply.

Then, seeing the enraged quasi–third-rank beast circling overhead, Old Hu shouted anxiously,

“Old Lin, help me!”