Chapter 195 : Seclusion! Late Foundation Establishment

Chapter 195: Seclusion! Late Foundation Establishment

Inside the tavern.

After Madam Lu left, only he, Old Hu, and the Wen Couple remained in the private room.

The four of them all looked rather grim. The treatment Madam Lu had just offered them could not be considered low.

“Other than the spiritual fields that originally belonged to us, the Lu Clan is even willing to give us twenty percent of the profits their Merchant Guild earns each year. All we need to do is hold the nominal title of Guest Elder.”

For a moment, the four could not help but exchange glances, their eyes flickering.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, Fellow Daoist Hu, what do you two think?”

In the end, it was Madam Wen, this beautiful woman, who felt tempted first and spoke up.

Lin Chang’an pondered for a while before finally nodding.

“This Lu Clan indeed offered quite a lot. Naturally, their aim is to win us over.”

Once one became a clan’s Guest Elder, even nominally, betrayal was not so simple. Otherwise, not only would one’s reputation suffer, but in the future, no matter what power one went to, they would be despised.

If it got serious, a bounty could even be issued against them. For this reason, without great benefit, very few Guest Elders or Worshipped Elders would betray their clan.

In the end, it was Old Hu who, seeing the others’ worried looks, waved his hand and said:

“I, Old Hu, am just a rough man, but even I know that if the four of us join hands and advance and retreat together, the Lu Clan won’t dare to act recklessly. Besides, this time, the Lu Clan came here precisely to put our minds at ease.”

As for that late Foundation Establishment cultivator surnamed Fang, he was directly excluded.

After all, no one knew when he had already gotten entangled with the Lu Clan.

In the end, after some discussion, though the four could not say they trusted one another deeply, at least when it came to interests on Yuling Island, they were united.

Only by advancing and retreating together could they guarantee their shared interests.

After the Wen Couple left, Old Hu let out a long, melancholy sigh.

“The prosperity of the three clans is still vivid in my mind, yet in the blink of an eye, it has become like this.”

“Who says otherwise?”

Lin Chang’an shook his head, then stood up to continue purchasing cultivation resources in the marketplace. This time, he was preparing for seclusion.

Naturally, he needed to prepare many things. He even secretly sold over twenty quasi–third-rank talismans.

A few days later, the four met at the agreed-upon location. Once they confirmed no one had followed them, they headed toward Yuling Island.

…

Upon returning to Yuling Island.

They saw the clan territory where the banners had been changed, the Lu Clan now replacing the three clans that had disappeared.

As for the drifting cultivators and mortals on the island, after a brief period of chaos, they soon resumed their normal lives.

After all, the newcomers were from the Lu Clan. A decade or so ago, this island had still been under Lu Clan rule. It was not unfamiliar.

When he returned to his cave abode, the Lu Clan once again sent people bearing heavy gifts.

“This is the benefit of strength.”

Lin Chang’an secretly nodded. If he had only just entered Foundation Establishment, he definitely would not have received such treatment.

However, as for the attractive female cultivator the Lu Clan sent to serve as his concubine, Lin Chang’an shook his head and directly refused.

Wouldn’t that just be placing a pair of eyes right beside him?

He had heard that the Lu Clan did not send any beautiful maids to the Wen Couple.

“Troublesome matters follow everywhere. In the future, once I have sufficient strength, I must go to the outer seas and find an island rich in spiritual energy, lest I be disturbed.”

Shaking his head, Lin Chang’an set up a formation outside his cave abode, spreading the message that he was entering seclusion to cultivate.

At the same time, he released the Azure-horned Bull and the Wind-chirp Bird, then turned and entered the cave abode.

Looking at the countless piles of cultivation resources and the alchemy furnace before him, Lin Chang’an took a deep breath.

“This time in seclusion, I will not leave until I break through to late Foundation Establishment!”

【Lifespan: 94/253】

【Realm: Mid Foundation Establishment (92/100)】

…

This seclusion was not for breaking through a major realm, nor did it involve some insurmountable bottleneck that required a death seclusion in pursuit of a breakthrough.

Instead, he cultivated with a tranquil heart, training diligently day after day within his cave abode, caring for his spirit beasts, drawing talismans, refining pills, and comprehending the profundities of formations, never neglecting any of them.

After three years, when Lin Chang’an found his cultivation had stagnated due to his spiritual root’s limitations, he reluctantly made a secret trip to Five Dragon Island.

There, he sold all the talismans and pills he had accumulated over the years, in exchange for many materials for quasi–third-rank pills, before returning to continue his seclusion.

Time flew by.

Inside the secluded chamber, Lin Chang’an sat cross-legged, operating his cultivation method. His whole body emitted a dense, ancient aura of vitality.

It was unknown how much time passed when suddenly, his mana surged violently, and a powerful fluctuation burst forth.

Because of the protective formation barrier around the cave abode, the outside world remained undisturbed.

However, the Azure-horned Bull and Wind-chirp Bird both sensed something. The two beasts turned their heads, gazing toward the cave abode.

“A century of waiting, at last the breakthrough.”

Late Foundation Establishment!

Inside the secluded chamber, Lin Chang’an felt the nearly doubled mana within his body, and his mood stirred with excitement.

No wonder the bottleneck had been so difficult. It had kept him in seclusion for a full six years.

“This cultivation method… it only reveals its true potential slowly over time. With my current mana, I already possess sixty to seventy percent of a False Core cultivator’s strength.

If I cultivate to the perfected stage of late Foundation Establishment, perhaps my mana could match a False Core cultivator’s.”

Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered. Though the quality was somewhat inferior, in terms of sheer quantity, he was not lacking at all. In fact, in recovery speed, he even surpassed them.

With gains and losses balancing out, once he reached perfected late Foundation Establishment, his strength rivaling a False Core cultivator was no pipe dream.

“This is what truly befits the title of an ancient cultivation method.”

At that moment, Lin Chang’an’s thoughts became clear, his body felt incomparably at ease, and a satisfied smile spread across his face.

He knew it—after all, this was an ancient cultivation method. How could it only grant him a regenerative body?

Sure enough, how could techniques cultivated by ancient cultivators be weak? It was only that his realm had been too low.

【Lifespan: 100/291】

【Realm: Late Foundation Establishment (0/100)】

Looking at his lifespan, Lin Chang’an could not help but laugh heartily inside his cave abode.

“With a lifespan nearing three hundred years, I can now rival cultivators who cultivate other wood-attribute methods.”

He had only just broken through, but if he reached perfected Foundation Establishment and his mana nurtured his body over the long term, surpassing three hundred years of lifespan would be easy.

Moreover, previously when he refined his life-bound spirit plant, he had consumed decades of lifespan. Otherwise, it would be even higher.

“Still, I cannot grow careless. The world of cultivation is full of upheaval. With my strength, I must remain low-profile. Although once I reach perfected Foundation Establishment, my mana will be almost on par with that of a False Core cultivator, False Core cultivators can already begin to wield low-grade magical artifacts.”

Lin Chang’an silently warned himself not to become arrogant.

False Core cultivators could already begin to wield a low-grade magical artifact, and their overall strength was still formidable.

They were far from someone at Foundation Establishment that could be easily provoked.

“But it’s not as though I have no trump cards. Once my talisman skills break through, I’ll be able to craft a Talisman Treasure.”

Thinking of that magical artifact gathering dust inside his storage pouch, Lin Chang’an secretly nodded.

Although crafting a Talisman Treasure would weaken the artifact’s power, compared to his own safety, artifacts were but external objects.

“A magical artifact can slowly recover its spirituality in the future, but for now, my safety is what matters most.”

When the time came, if False Core cultivators had magical artifacts, he too would have a Talisman Treasure.

This life-bound magical artifact of the Blood Fiend True Lord was an upper-grade magical artifact of the Golden Core Realm. Even if its might had greatly diminished, the Talisman Treasure created from it would not be weaker than that of a False Core cultivator’s magical artifact.

After all, there was still a difference between False Core cultivators and true Core Formation cultivators.

True Core cultivators could wield the full power of a low-grade magical artifact, while False Core cultivators could at most draw out seventy or eighty percent.

Of course, even so, being able to wield a magical artifact meant that False Core cultivators were still very powerful.

He absolutely could not grow careless.

…

Walking out of the cave abode after six years in seclusion, even the trees outside the formation barrier seemed to have grown several inches taller.

“Moo!”

With a bellow, the Azure-horned Bull excitedly ran out from the pool, its body radiating the aura of a peak mid second-rank beast.

However, a streak of golden light was faster, landing directly on Lin Chang’an’s shoulder, rubbing its small head against him while squeaking with excitement.

“All right, it seems the two of you haven’t been lazy during this time either.”

Looking at his two spirit pets, Lin Chang’an nodded in satisfaction.

Especially the Wind-chirp Bird—fortunately, he had not slaughtered it for its demon core back then, or he would have suffered a huge loss.

The bloodline of this Wind-chirp Bird was indeed extraordinary.

At first, both he and the Azure-horned Bull had outstripped it in cultivation, but in just a few decades, this Wind-chirp Bird had unexpectedly surpassed them.

As he watched his two spirit pets before him—especially the cunning Wind-chirp Bird now fanning him and massaging his shoulders again—Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered with thought.

With such a superior bloodline, if this Wind-chirp Bird broke through to third rank before him and became a Golden Core realm demon beast…

Wouldn’t that mean he could harvest its demon core?

Or perhaps sell it? With a living exotic beast, exchanging it for a top-grade Core Formation spirit item would not be too difficult.

At this thought, Lin Chang’an secretly nodded. It truly seemed possible.

At this very moment, however, the Wind-chirp Bird, diligently massaging its master’s shoulders, had no idea its owner was already entertaining thoughts of selling it.

“But having a third-rank spirit pet is worth even more. Just like Master Lu with his!”

As this thought crossed his mind, Lin Chang’an revealed a strange expression. Though Master Lu was pretending, a third-rank Blackwater Turtle could hardly pretend to be weak.

“Cultivate well and strive to break through to third rank soon. When the time comes, your master will take you to feast on a third-rank demon core.”

With a broad smile, Lin Chang’an patted the Wind-chirp Bird. At that moment, the bird’s fawning demeanor suddenly seemed much more pleasing to the eye.

And though the Wind-chirp Bird had high intelligence, how could it compare with the cunning of a human?

When it heard that it might one day have the chance to eat a third-rank demon core, its pale golden eyes instantly lit up, filled with excitement.

Its incessant chirping filled the air, making the Azure-horned Bull at the side look aggrieved.

“All right, here’s a spirit fruit for you.”

But when its master handed over the fruit so perfunctorily, the Azure-horned Bull’s eyes went wide in anger.

It truly felt as though its master had gotten a new bird and forgotten his old bull.

Yet that anger in its bovine eyes turned into motivation, as it swore to train hard and one day catch up to that damned bird.

…

With Lin Chang’an emerging from seclusion and openly displaying the aura of late Foundation Establishment…

The first to arrive was not Old Hu, but the Lu Clan, the foremost cultivation clan on Yuling Island, who came to pay him a visit.

“Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Lin on advancing your cultivation. Core Formation is within reach.”

Madam Lu came with a smile, accompanied by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“Lu Yujian greets Senior Lin!”

Lu Yujian, who appeared middle-aged, carried himself with taciturn silence. In his arms, he clutched a treasured sword as if it were his very life. He was at mid Foundation Establishment, though his unstable aura suggested he had only recently broken through.

“You and I are of similar cultivation. There’s no need to call me senior. Fellow Daoist will do.”

Lin Chang’an was momentarily stunned. This man looked older than him, though his cultivation was a bit lower. Still, as fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, for him to call Lin Chang’an senior felt strange.

Then Madam Lu smiled and explained that this was her own son, and he understood.

But even so, as fellow Foundation Establishment cultivators, Fellow Daoist was more appropriate.

It had to be said—the Lu Clan, after suffering great losses, was no longer the arrogant clan it once had been.

At least in these few interactions, from top to bottom, he saw no trace of the arrogance he had once heard about.

“Clan Patriarch Lu, you are too courteous.”

Facing Madam Lu’s personal visit, with her son in tow, Lin Chang’an was quite satisfied with the respect shown.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, you are too modest. At such a young age, to have cultivated so far as a drifting cultivator, your Core Formation is only a matter of time.”

Having learned that Lin Chang’an had broken through to late Foundation Establishment, Madam Lu had been surprised, but outwardly she only showed warmth.

After all, she had also gathered information from the Seven Kingdoms over the years. Lin Chang’an’s reputation was public knowledge and not hard to investigate.

A drifting cultivator with extraordinary comprehension, once acquainted with two disciples of True Lord Lu of Tianxuan City, and one who had even run a black market. With such experiences, it was no wonder he had reached this cultivation.

In the world of cultivation, spiritual roots were only the beginning. Comprehension, opportunity, and cultivation resources were all equally important.

Meanwhile, Lu Yujian, still holding his sword like a precious treasure, stared directly at Lin Chang’an.

“Senior Lin, I’ve heard you are also a sword cultivator. I…”

He looked every bit the sword fanatic, but just as he was about to speak further, his mother silenced him with a glare.

The sword fanatic could only lower his head in embarrassed silence.

“Clan Patriarch Lu, you are too kind.”

Lin Chang’an chuckled, feeling that he wouldn’t mind associating with this sword cultivator. At least, conversations with such people required less scheming.

After sending off the Lu Clan Patriarch, Lin Chang’an looked over the gifts they had left and felt satisfied.

This had been the reason he revealed his breakthrough aura in the first place. It would be a waste not to accept such gifts.

As for hiding his cultivation, that had never crossed his mind.

If he did not show his late Foundation Establishment cultivation, he might still be underestimated.

What he needed to conceal was only a part of his strength.

“Tsk, tsk. Since we’re all living on Yuling Island now, whenever the Lu Clan has happy occasions, proper exchanges of gifts will be inevitable. For now, I’ll just accept this wave.”

One had to admit, ever since Madam Lu had become Clan Patriarch, her generosity was remarkable.

Just then, laughter rang out at his cave abode.

“Old Lin, so you’ve finally come out of seclusion. Look what I’ve brought—spirit wine and spirit meat, just for you to celebrate!”

…

“Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Lin, on your progress. Core Formation is only a matter of time.”

“Old Hu, when you form your core in the future, don’t forget me, Lin.”

In the pavilion, Old Hu brought out a full table of wine and meat. With a broad smile, Lin Chang’an raised his cup and downed it all in one go.

A cultivation breakthrough naturally called for celebration.

Yet as they drank, Lin Chang’an’s thoughts drifted toward the Yue Kingdom, and he sighed inwardly.

Each of his past breakthroughs had taken place in the Juxian Tower, alongside Shen Lie, Erniu, Lu Qingqing, and Wei Buyi. He wondered how they were doing now.

Given their cultivations, living past a hundred years should not be a problem. They should still be eating meat and drinking wine even now.

“Come, Old Lin, let me tell you what happened on the island and in the surrounding seas during your years of seclusion.”

After several rounds of drinks, Old Hu’s expression turned grave as he carefully recounted the intelligence Lin Chang’an had missed over the past years.

This included the turmoil within the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, as well as matters concerning this sea region. Many of the events made Lin Chang’an’s heart race in shock.