Chapter 215 : The Killer Was Ghost Three Blades

Chapter 215: The Killer Was Ghost Three Blades

On a deserted island.

“Without a doubt, this formation plate has reacted. This person must be the cultivator thief who killed Fellow Daoist Huang Shaohai and stole our Palace of Blazing Fire’s exotic beast.”

Two Foundation Establishment cultivators, with solemn expressions, held a formation plate in their hands. A spiritual light flickered on the plate, marking the position—which happened to be the direction where Lin Chang’an was hiding.

From their conversation, Lin Chang’an, who was concealed in the shadows, frowned slightly when he saw this scene.

“Palace of Blazing Fire cultivators?”

Moreover, judging from the other party’s formation plate, Lin Chang’an seemed to have realized something. His gaze turned toward the Wind-Chirp Bird perched on his shoulder.

The Wind-Chirp Bird flapped its wings repeatedly in grievance, showing absolute loyalty.

The two men moved forward cautiously, thinking they were well hidden, but unknowingly, they stepped into a formation.

“Senior brother, something’s wrong here. Where are the Sinister Spirits from earlier? Why have they suddenly disappeared?”

The two had intended to investigate secretly, but the alert junior brother quickly noticed that the surrounding Sinister Spirits had all vanished.

“Not good, there’s a formation here!”

If it were just ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, they would still have confidence in a battle. But if trapped inside a formation, it would be troublesome.

“Noticed, have you? Unfortunately, it’s already too late!”

In an instant, the formation around them activated, forming a perfect barrier.

The two Palace of Blazing Fire cultivators were both furious and alarmed. The junior brother, quick-witted, shouted coldly:

“Fellow Daoist, before we came, we already sent a message to nearby fellow disciples. At most, in half a stick of incense, they will arrive.”

Their intent was to frighten the hidden opponent into retreat. Though caught in a grand formation, they still believed their enemy could not kill them so easily.

Yet, as soon as the words left his mouth, a streak of golden light struck.

It was the Wind-Chirp Bird. With its sharp beak, it instantly pierced through their protective barrier of spiritual power.

Shocked and enraged, the two quickly combined their strength to activate a joint secret technique, urging a magical artifact to shield themselves.

“A joint secret technique, huh!”

One was in the late stage of Foundation Establishment, the other at the mid stage. By combining their joint secret art, their defense was no weaker than a perfected Foundation Establishment cultivator.

“End this quickly!”

Inside the formation, Lin Chang’an’s eyes flashed with a cold light. Since the other party had targeted him, he naturally would not let them go.

“Moo!”

With a muffled roar, the Azure-Horned Bull charged out from the formation, together with the Wind-Chirp Bird, launching an attack.

“Senior brother!”

“Junior brother!”

The two were battle-hardened veterans. They did not get greedy but continued to maintain their defensive stance, even pulling out defensive talismans.

In an instant, seven layers of protective barriers appeared around them, reinforced by their magical artifact, greatly increasing their defense.

The Azure-Horned Bull’s fierce collision resounded with heavy thuds, the shields vibrating under the pressure.

“Haha, Fellow Daoist, if you don’t leave now, later you may have no chance to escape!”

Even while defending, the two men taunted calmly, trying to shake their opponent’s mind.

But the Wind-Chirp Bird let out a long cry. A wisp of golden flame coiled around its beak, and in the brothers’ horrified, unbelieving gazes—

It pierced through all seven layers of their defensive barriers in an instant, like a hot iron stabbing into candle wax—breaking them instantly.

Their last defensive magical artifact was shattered and flung aside, leaving a deep imprint in the ground, its spiritual light dimmed.

“How is this possible!”

The brothers’ pupils contracted in shock. At the moment their defenses broke, two streaks of bloody light flashed—their brows marked with a small red seal.

Blood Spirit Thorns.

Two top-grade flying-needle artifacts pierced straight through them and returned to Lin Chang’an’s fingertips.

One belonged to him, while the other had been gifted by his acquaintance, Fellow Daoist Guan.

“These great sect cultivators really can’t be underestimated.”

Though Lin Chang’an seemed to have won easily, in truth, the Wind-Chirp Bird’s beak was a natural counter to protective spiritual light.

Even so, it had not slain the brothers directly, only shattered their defenses, giving him the chance to finish them.

After killing the two, Lin Chang’an stepped forward to quickly probe their memories.

A moment later, he opened his eyes and cursed.

“They really did notify nearby fellow disciples!”

He had thought they were bluffing, but it turned out to be true.

Cursing, Lin Chang’an hurriedly dismantled the formation, gathered his two beasts, and prepared to flee. He did not forget to take the brothers’ storage pouches. Before leaving, he deliberately left behind a line of words:

【The killer was Ghost Three Blades】

Of course, he did not forget to use the Zhong Clan’s Three Fiends’ great halberd to leave behind unique traces at the scene.

……

“At least they’re disciples of a great sect, yet still so cautious!”

Racing across the sea, Lin Chang’an cursed, his eyes flashing with killing intent.

From their memories, he had learned that the Palace of Blazing Fire had begun investigating the Wind-Chirp Bird. More importantly, Huang Yuntian, that False Core cultivator, was still obsessed with avenging his son’s death.

A second-rank Wind-Chirp Bird was enough to incite jealousy not only from Foundation Establishment cultivators but even from False Core cultivators.

The problem was, his bird was no ordinary Wind-Chirp Bird—it must never be exposed!

“Once exposed, even Core Formation or Nascent Soul cultivators will covet it!”

For he knew this bird was the legendary Golden Flame Divine Phoenix, not a mere Wind-Chirp Bird.

After he infused spiritual power into the Wind-Chirp Bird on his shoulder, the formation plate in his palm lost its glow. Only then did Lin Chang’an secretly sigh in relief.

“The bird swallowed too many Sinister Spirits. The vast spiritual power in its body used up the power I left within it, which is why it was detected.”

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an sighed again. It was his first time raising such a beast; he was still unfamiliar with its nature.

“Palace of Blazing Fire!”

A cold light flashed in his eyes. Back in Tianxuan City, he had already been targeted by the Palace for his status as a second-rank talisman master.

At that time, there had even been Huang Shaohai’s threats.

Truly, enemies crossed paths again and again—it was endless.

For now, he had to endure. Once he reached Core Formation, he would seek revenge.

He had not forgotten that the Palace of Blazing Fire still possessed treasures from that relic cave abode.

……

After Lin Chang’an left, three more Foundation Establishment cultivators from the Palace of Blazing Fire arrived at the deserted island.

“Their auras vanished here.”

“Damn it, the bodies are destroyed!”

“There’s still a line of writing here.”

Seeing the words “The killer was Ghost Three Blades,” all three showed furious expressions.

“Examine the battle traces! Our Palace of Blazing Fire will never let this man go.”

“Yes!”

When Huang Yuntian learned of the incident, he rushed to the scene himself. After investigating the traces, he finally identified the culprits.

“The Zhong Clan’s Three Fiends from Shayun Kingdom! I knew my son could not have been killed so easily by a mere drifting cultivator—it was you who murdered him!”

Huang Yuntian roared in fury. At last, he understood.

Only such ruthless robber cultivators, working together, could have killed his son.

And they had even taken the exotic beast, the Wind-Chirp Bird.

Everyone thought the Zhong Clan’s Three Fiends were dead, yet unexpectedly, they had revealed their trail once again.

“Search! The Zhong Clan’s Three Fiends must not be spared!”

……

But Lin Chang’an knew none of this. By now, he had already returned to Yuling Island.

He planned to purchase some supplies, then head out again to investigate the gathering place of Sinister Spirits in the Fog Sea of Tongtian.

Whether it was a Core Formation spirit item or the Yin Vein Spiritual Spring, both were what he needed.

However, upon returning to Yuling Island this time, he encountered the Five Dragon Island’s patrol enforcement squad.

Inside a cave abode.

“Talisman Master Lin.”

This man from Five Dragon Island, Rong Qing, the leader of the patrol enforcement squad, was a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator. His face carried a gentle smile, looking refined and cultured.

“Fellow Daoist Rong.”

Lin Chang’an politely invited him inside to drink tea. After a round of conversation, he finally understood the man’s purpose.

It turned out that recently, robber cultivators had been running rampant in the Five Dragon Island waters. The patrol enforcement squad had been dispatched to hunt them down, while also informing all the Foundation Establishment cultivators on the various spirit islands.

Of course, the patrol enforcement squad’s strength was not weak. Naturally, patrolling the waters was not done for free.

However, part of the cave abode rent they had paid earlier already covered this.

“Talisman Master Lin, before, the main expenses on Yuling Island were always shouldered by the three clans. Now it’s the Lu Clan…”

This Fellow Daoist Rong explained tactfully, and only then did Lin Chang’an understand what he meant.

By regulation, the rent was based on the size of the cave abode or spiritual land occupied.

At present, the Lu Clan occupied the three clans’ lands, so they should have borne the larger share.

But ever since Lu Yushu acknowledged a Core Formation cultivator as his master, things had changed.

“The Lu Clan, who occupied the three clans’ lands, suddenly only needed to pay the rent for a single area. Naturally, the rest had to be covered by us drifting cultivators.”

Lin Chang’an fell silent. In the world of cultivation, human affairs and politics had always been present.

Perhaps this was not the Lu Clan’s intention.

But did that matter?

“So that’s how it is. Many thanks, Fellow Daoist Rong.”

For just a few more spirit stones, Lin Chang’an wore a helpless smile but reluctantly agreed.

Seeing this, Rong Qing seemed a little embarrassed, raising his teacup awkwardly.

The two then conversed about the Dao, and Lin Chang’an secretly nodded. This Fellow Daoist Rong not only had high cultivation, but also remarkable insight.

Their conversation was pleasant. Lin Chang’an had a favorable impression of this refined Rong Qing.

Likewise, Lin Chang’an, who had a unique skill and did not like causing trouble, left Rong Qing quite satisfied.

No disputes were always best.

Afterwards, this Fellow Daoist Song left together with several other Five Dragon Island law enforcement cultivators. Clearly, Old Hu and the other two Foundation Establishment cultivators from the other clans looked rather stifled.

……

After they left, Old Hu came to his cave abode to vent.

“Old Lin, if not for Five Dragon Island’s overbearing style, how could robber cultivators be running rampant like this?”

Hu Jin was not distressed about a few spirit stones. What he was displeased with was the situation of robber cultivators wreaking havoc in the waters around Five Dragon Island.

Lin Chang’an only shook his head helplessly. He had heard before how Five Dragon Island suppressed cultivator clans that went against their will.

But as just a drifting Foundation Establishment cultivator, what could he do about such matters?

“Enough, Old Hu. Spending money to avoid disaster isn’t so bad. At least with a patrol enforcement squad around, traveling outside will be a little safer.”

Lin Chang’an shook his head. Spending a few spirit stones to make his cultivation environment more stable was acceptable.

Soon, the two newly arrived Foundation Establishment cultivators on the island came to pay him a visit.

It was partly for introductions, but more importantly, both hinted they wanted to order some talismans. Lin Chang’an naturally agreed.

After all, he was openly a high-grade second-rank talisman master. The spirit stones had to be earned.

Time passed.

In the days that followed, Lin Chang’an once again returned to his routine of cultivation and drawing talismans.

Meanwhile, the outside seas grew increasingly chaotic.

Because the waters of Five Dragon Island neighbored the Fog Sea of Tongtian, countless ruthless robber cultivators lurked there.

Although the patrol enforcement squad suppressed them, it only meant the robbers were less brazen than before.

In the shadows, incidents still occurred often.

After all, this was the Sea Abyss of Beasts. If it were completely calm without robber cultivators, that would be unusual.

……

【Lifespan: 107/284】

【Realm: Late-stage Foundation Establishment (15/100)】

Though cold winds howled outside, within the formation barrier, the cave abode was like spring all year round.

The Azure-Horned Bull’s aura grew unstable, finally ready to break through. This made Lin Chang’an smile in satisfaction.

On his shoulder, the Wind-Chirp Bird looked proud and arrogant, as if declaring it had replaced the bull as its master’s number one spirit pet.

“Old Hu mentioned the trade fair. I should go take a look, and at the same time purchase some supplies in the marketplace. Then I’ll claim to be in seclusion, while secretly continuing to explore the Sinister Spirits’ gathering place in the Fog Sea of Tongtian.”

Lin Chang’an’s eyes gleamed. The mist of the Fog Sea of Tongtian blocked divine sense, but for him it was a natural cover.

With his sharp perception and Spirit Eye, the fog actually helped him conceal his movements.

“Last time, I only went for a brief probe, without planning to stay long. This time, I must prepare thoroughly and be ready for a long stay.”

He had already tasted the benefits of finding the Yin Vein Spiritual Spring last time.

Especially with the Blackwater Liquid. Though not much, he could still collect it gradually.

If he was lucky and encountered a higher-grade Yin Vein Spiritual Spring, he might obtain enough Blackwater Liquid directly…

But thinking of this, Lin Chang’an shook his head. Forget it. Even if he found one, he might not be able to claim it.

At such a spring, there would be several third-rank Sinister Spirit Beast Kings—it would not be easy to take.

“And you, cultivate well. Strive to break through to the third rank as soon as possible.”

Patting the Wind-Chirp Bird on the shoulder, Lin Chang’an fell into thought.

He was not sure if the bird could succeed in breaking through, but before that, it must not go to waste—he had to make good use of it.

“No, these Sinister Spirits are rare nourishing treasures for the Wind-Chirp Bird, and greatly beneficial to its cultivation and breakthrough.”

Justifying it to himself, Lin Chang’an patted the bird gently and whispered:

“If you break through to the third rank, finding Blackwater Liquid in the Fog Sea of Tongtian will be much easier. But if you fail, this Yang-attribute Demon Core must not be wasted.”

The Wind-Chirp Bird widened its eyes, realizing its master had already planned for both its success and death. It flapped its wings frantically in protest.

If it broke through, it would be useful.

If it failed and died, its demon core would still be used.

Wouldn’t that make its breakthrough pointless?

“Don’t even think about escaping from my palm after breaking through.”

Though he had feelings for the bird, Lin Chang’an could occasionally sense its thoughts through the beast-taming token.

At once, Lin Chang’an sneered coldly. The Wind-Chirp Bird, guilty and anxious, widened its eyes and patted its chest with its wings, swearing absolute loyalty.

Once the Wind-Chirp Bird reached the third rank, his beast-taming token would no longer suppress it. Or rather, if the master’s cultivation was too weak, the spirit pet could break free from its bonds.

From then on, the heavenly bird would fly free.

But with his current False Core realm’s stabilized divine sense, he was confident in managing the Wind-Chirp Bird’s breakthrough.

Otherwise, he would never risk ending up empty-handed.

After all, spirit pet backlash was not unheard of in the world of cultivation.