Chapter 196 : Gathering Intelligence

Chapter 196: Gathering Intelligence

“These past few years, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance existed in name alone. At first, it was because they had yet to establish a foothold, but once they did, endless disputes over profit and self-interest erupted.”

When mentioning the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, Old Hu’s face was full of melancholy and helplessness. After all, they were fellow cultivators who had come from the same homeland.

“The Xuanyin Pavilion was the weakest force, but by relying on connections early on, they actually joined Five Dragon Island. Their development wasn’t bad.

As for the Shensword Sect, their fate was miserable. I don’t know whom they offended, but three years ago their sect was destroyed, and now the Shensword Sect no longer exists…”

Hearing Old Hu’s account, Lin Chang’an’s heart thumped wildly.

He hadn’t expected that in the short six years he had been in seclusion, so many things had happened.

But thinking about it again, it was only natural. Since the Seven Kingdoms first arrived, they would inevitably experience upheavals before stabilizing.

“The most infuriating one was the Palace of Blazing Fire. And the Vajra Sect even followed them, hiding together in the Fog Sea of Tongtian, doing the work of robber cultivators…”

When he heard of the Vajra Sect, Lin Chang’an secretly nodded. That sect had always excelled at plundering. Now that they had come to the Sea Abyss of Beasts, it was as if they had returned home.

“Right, Old Hu, what about the few Daoist friends on our island? And the Lu Clan?”

“The Lu Clan is actually doing quite well. From what I see, they’ve been focusing on development without stirring up trouble. The island has five Foundation Establishment cultivators, so their strength isn’t weak.

But I’ve heard that before the Lu Clan’s calamity, their most gifted disciple joined Sea Abyss City, and is said to have long since formed Foundation…”

Lin Chang’an nodded silently while listening to Old Hu’s analysis.

“So the Wen Couple are still the same, a loving pair. And that Fang-surnamed cultivator with the highest cultivation rarely shows himself.”

Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered, his thoughts unclear.

As for other things—robber cultivators, or some cultivator gaining opportunities—Lin Chang’an only smiled faintly, though he kept everything in mind.

“Right, recently that Fang fellow might come looking for you, Old Lin.”

“Looking for me?”

Lin Chang’an’s face was full of confusion, but before Old Hu could explain further—

Indeed, the very cultivator who had come together with them to Yuling Island, usually taciturn yet secretly connected to the Lu Clan, that late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, arrived to pay a visit.

……

“Congratulations, Daoist Lin, on your cultivation advancement.”

This late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, Fang Tie, though he brought a gift to congratulate him, spoke stiffly, proving he wasn’t good at social interaction.

Still, since he came with a gift to offer congratulations, Lin Chang’an naturally received him with a smile.

As for his secret connection with the Lu Clan, Lin Chang’an could only think: everyone had their own choices. Perhaps back then it was because Lady Lu’s temptation had been strong enough.

This late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator’s heart had been moved.

“Daoist Fang, since you and I both live on Yuling Island, we should interact more often in the future.”

Old Hu, standing at the side, was even more naturally familiar, smiling as he spoke. Yet in secret, he had already transmitted Fang’s true intention to Lin Chang’an through a voice-transmission spell.

Lin Chang’an suddenly understood, nodding inwardly.

“Daoist Lin, I’ve already visited the Wen Couple and Daoist Hu. This time, I came because I discovered the cave of a quasi–third-rank demon beast.

There are a pair of male and female beasts. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been helpless. From my observations, I’m fairly sure they have already laid eggs…”

Listening to Fang Tie’s intent, Lin Chang’an feigned a look of sudden realization.

“A quasi–third-rank demon beast cave!”

But in secret, he glanced at Old Hu, since after all he had been in seclusion for years and didn’t know the details.

This ordinary-looking, taciturn cultivator Fang Tie carried an embarrassed expression.

As if saying, if he could handle it alone, he definitely wouldn’t be asking others for help.

“The Wen Couple have already agreed. Daoist Lin, what about you?”

After understanding the situation, Lin Chang’an silently pondered.

If he wanted to prepare for Core Formation, relying only on his skills to earn spirit stones was indeed not enough.

And with two quasi–third-rank demon beasts, if the five of them joined forces—three late-stage Foundation Establishment, two mid-stage—

Adding in some methods, it didn’t seem too dangerous.

Yet after a moment of thought, Lin Chang’an tactfully declined:

“Daoist Fang, I’ve only just broken through. I need to stabilize my realm for some time. I fear I’ll disappoint you.”

Hearing his refusal, Fang Tie was momentarily stunned, but then, instead of pressing, he calmly grinned and nodded.

“No problem. Daoist Lin just broke through, of course he needs to consolidate his cultivation.”

Afterwards, the three of them exchanged cultivation insights. Fang Tie seemed to be this way by nature, becoming excited only when discussing cultivation matters.

But when it came to anecdotes or light chatter, he was painfully stiff.

Once Fang left, Old Hu was full of puzzlement.

“Old Lin, why didn’t you go?”

“Are you kidding me? I just broke through—shouldn’t I take this time to consolidate my cultivation instead of risking my life? Besides, two quasi–third-rank demon beasts and their eggs—how would five people split them?”

Lin Chang’an spoke with calm indifference. It might have looked like low risk, but he had no intention of taking the gamble.

Going with three cultivators he had no trust in—that alone was the greatest risk.

Moreover, how to split five ways? That was the greatest problem in the cultivation world, and also the biggest cause of deaths.

What’s more, quasi–third-rank demon beasts were the most vicious during the hatching period.

Were there traps? Were others watching? All these were hidden dangers.

If it had been Yun Yao or He Yan inviting him, at least there was some foundation of trust. He might have considered it.

“With those cultivators, I’d rather spend more time relying on formations to hunt beasts myself. At least then, whether I advance or retreat, it’s safer—and the prey would be all mine.”

Lin Chang’an thought to himself. Not only in the Sea Abyss of Beasts—even if it were in Tianxuan City, he still wouldn’t go.

“Besides, Old Hu, weren’t you not going either?”

At that, Old Hu sighed helplessly.

“Old Lin, it’s not that I’m not tempted, but I already accepted a big commission from the Lu Clan. I won’t have the time for the next two years.”

Later, the Wen Couple also came to congratulate him. After all, the circle of Foundation Establishment cultivators on the island wasn’t large, and since he was a second-rank high-grade talisman master, it was only natural they should associate with him.

……

After leaving seclusion, the very first thing Lin Chang’an did was secretly head to Five Dragon Island to sell his stockpile of talismans and other items, exchanging them for cultivation resources.

He really was running out of spirit stones.

Six years of seclusion—though he had drawn talismans and refined pills—most of his focus had been on cultivation.

The pills he refined were all used to improve his own cultivation, not a single one wasted.

And while he publicly claimed he was stabilizing his realm, word had already spread within the Lu Clan that a new late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator had appeared on the island.

“A newly advanced late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator—it’s actually that Talisman Master Lin!”

“Didn’t they say his spiritual root aptitude was poor?”

“So what if it was poor? He’s a second-rank high-grade talisman master. I heard he once ran a marketplace—imagine how many cultivation resources he had. His breakthrough isn’t surprising.”

“It’s him! Talisman Master Lin!”

Many Lu Clan cultivators were filled with envy.

Although the Lu Clan had reclaimed Yuling Island, it was no longer the Lu Clan of old.

Over the years, in order to retake Yuling Island, they had nearly exhausted their foundation.

“It’s fine. Our Lu Clan still has the Young Master in Sea Abyss City. One day, he will surely form Core!”

“That’s right!”

Within the Lu Clan’s residence, seeing their clan members’ fighting spirit, Madam Lu’s tired face revealed a smile.

“Looks like it’s working well.”

“Yes, all thanks to the Patriarch’s methods. After hearing the news, everyone is cultivating with renewed vigor.”

“That’s good. This is the kind of atmosphere we need.”

Madam Lu was full of smiles. What satisfied her most was that, after such tribulations, the arrogance that once filled the Lu Clan was gone.

Reborn from fire, though the clan’s century-old accumulation of resources had been exhausted, their foundation remained.

As long as they developed steadily, it wouldn’t take long for the Lu Clan to rise again.

Yet within the council hall, Lu Yujian, holding his treasured sword, remained silent, muttering to himself:

“I really want to witness how strong the sword path of that wandering cultivator, who fought his way through countless obstacles, truly is!”

The other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the hall looked at Lu Yujian and could only shake their heads helplessly.

His spiritual root aptitude was only mid-grade, but his comprehension in swordsmanship was astonishing.

But what a pity.

Although he was the Patriarch’s son, Madam Lu remained calm. She clearly knew what the Lu Clan needed, and so she did not divert resources toward him.

Instead, at present, all of the Lu Clan’s resources were tilted toward their Young Master far away in Sea Abyss City.

With a top-grade spiritual root and decent aptitude, he might become the Lu Clan’s very first Core Formation cultivator.

……

Five Dragon Island.

“Daoist friend, these are all the pieces of information from the past seven years about the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, as well as detailed intelligence on Yuling Island’s Lu Clan and the previous three clans.

Also, intelligence on the Wen Couple from Liang Country and Fang Tie, the Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator from Shayun Kingdom.”

Walking out of the Many Treasures Pavilion, Lin Chang’an looked at the familiar signboard, and his heart surged with emotion.

He hadn’t expected that after so many years, he would once again see the Many Treasures Pavilion on Five Dragon Island. Truly nostalgic.

He hoped that one day, after forming Core, he could also see the Many Treasures Pavilion and the Many Treasures Building in Sea Abyss City. As for the Treasure Pavilion of the Palace of Blazing Fire, that one he could do without.

“No wonder the Lu Clan was driven out before. But that Madam Lu truly turned the tide—what a heroine among women…”

“The Wen Couple apprenticed under a Foundation Establishment rogue cultivator since childhood, and along the way… they were deeply in love. The couple cultivated a joint strike secret art, and once…”

Lin Chang’an admired the Lu Clan’s information, but after seeing the intelligence on the Wen Couple, he couldn’t help but feel envious.

This was indeed one of the rare few deeply affectionate couples in the cultivation world.

Childhood sweethearts, enduring trials together, experiencing storms side by side, and then both advancing to Foundation Establishment—such a story could only be called a rarity among rarities in the cultivation world.

“It seems that when the Wen Couple fight together, their strength should be comparable to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, or even a perfected Foundation Establishment one. Their strength cannot be underestimated.”

Though they were affectionate, in matters of利益, everyone else was still an outsider.

Their affection wasn’t his, so hunting demon beasts together still carried certain risks.

“But this cultivator Fang Tie is very strange. In the barren lands of Shayun Kingdom, how could he develop such a taciturn personality?”

Although the intelligence seemed normal, Lin Chang’an still felt something was off.

“Still, Fang Tie truly lives up to being from Shayun Kingdom—he turned out to be a body cultivator.”

A late-stage Foundation Establishment body cultivator—his strength was extremely formidable.

Looking at the intelligence in his hand, Lin Chang’an pondered silently. Perhaps he was just being overly suspicious.

But he would rather be overly cautious than place himself in danger. Therefore, regarding any cultivator who could potentially threaten him, if possible, he wanted to gather intelligence in advance.

The Seven Kingdoms were small places. Even Yue Kingdom, the strongest among them, only had three sects and a handful of Core Formation cultivators.

Some of the smaller kingdoms had only two Core Formation cultivators in total, some even just one.

Therefore, the number of Foundation Establishment cultivators in each country wasn’t high, and their movements could usually be traced.

Especially the Xuanyin Pavilion, which was well-known for gathering intelligence and trading.

“A body cultivator, huh? Now that I’ve reached late-stage Foundation Establishment, my cultivation has slowed. More importantly, everything I do now must be in preparation for Core Formation.”

Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered. In the past, he hadn’t considered body refinement. One reason was the lack of time and resources, and another was knowing the importance of priorities.

If he had pursued both paths at once, he might have ended up weak in both. For him to have reached mid-stage Foundation Establishment back then was already something to be grateful for.

Although dual cultivation of法and体 made one very strong, it also dragged down cultivation progress.

“And now, even if I faced a mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who dual-cultivated法and体, I would still hold the advantage.”

Lin Chang’an’s expression was calm, without regret. But now the situation was different.

Planning for Core Formation wasn’t something that could be done overnight. And if he wanted to succeed in forming Core, he truly needed to consider some body refinement.

“Spiritual root aptitude, the purity of mana, and auxiliary Core Formation spirit items—all affect the success rate of Core Formation.”

It was said that in ancient times, cultivators needed no such auxiliary items. But in today’s era of thin spiritual energy, without them, forming Core could take forever.

“And during Core Formation, one of the most important aspects was the crystallization of mana. At that time, if a cultivator’s body was stronger,

then with certain targeted body refinement techniques, there could indeed be some supporting effect.”

At this thought, Lin Chang’an fell into silence. From Huang Shaohai’s memories, he had learned that the Palace of Blazing Fire truly possessed such auxiliary body refinement methods for Core Formation.

But unfortunately, since Huang Shaohai’s cultivation hadn’t been high enough, he never had access to them.

“These methods won’t be available out in the open either. From what I’ve heard, some families and sects might provide them—

But almost always in exchange for conditions akin to a slave contract. Far too harsh.”

Lin Chang’an finally shook his head and sighed softly. Step by step. For now, he would just focus on purchasing resources. He had only just reached late-stage Foundation Establishment—there was no need to rush.

“But in the past few years, many disciples from sects and noble clans of the Seven Kingdoms have turned traitor. If there’s an opportunity, I could perhaps try it.”

His life-bound spirit plant could read memories. As long as he found a disciple with not-so-high cultivation to target, he might truly have a chance.

“And besides, these auxiliary body refinement techniques consumed no small amount of resources. The increase in Core Formation success wasn’t that great either. If the difficulty proved too high, I’d have no choice but to give it up.”

Lin Chang’an nodded inwardly. For now, his main focus was preparing to cultivate the Three-turn Core Condensation Art, since this secret method gave the highest boost to the chances of Core Formation.

While Lin Chang’an was busy purchasing resources in the marketplace, someone in the shadows had already set their eyes on him.