Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

Chapter 776: Chapter 371: Three Years, Core Formation Phenomena

The resources in hand may not necessarily belong to you; if you’re not careful, they might become materials in someone else’s storage bag tomorrow.

Only strength truly belongs to oneself.

...

Profound Sound Pavilion’s main peak.

An ancient hexagonal stone pavilion stood silently, with eaves that curved gracefully, etched with the frost of years gone by.

In the pavilion, two figures sat cross-legged, none other than Lin Chang’an and Fairy Ni Chang.

Fairy Ni Chang’s blue and white long skirt fluttered slightly in the mountain breeze. Her eyes were slightly closed, her face calm and serene, yet the white piece at her fingertips remained unplaced.

"Mr. Ni Chang, you lost this round."

Lin Chang’an, dressed in white, rarely turned the tide in a chess game, couldn’t help but reveal a relaxed smile.

Fairy Ni Chang finally sighed gently, slowly abandoning her piece as a sign of defeat.

She usually won their chess matches; however, today she lost three games in a row.

"It seems my state of mind is still not enough."

Fairy Ni Chang smiled, thinking her mindset that had been honed over more than a hundred years was decent, only to find her heart still in chaos.

But Lin Chang’an gently shook his head, countering:

"It’s not that your mindset isn’t enough, but rather it relates to one’s obsession. If you truly could let it all go, I would sincerely ask you: have you achieved that path of an Immortal without desires?"

No cultivator is without their obsessions, much like Lin Chang’an desires to break through to the Nascent Soul, to grow stronger and become a player in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, rather than a mere pawn.

And Fairy Ni Chang’s obsession is her earnest desire to lead the Profound Sound Pavilion to rise.

If a cultivator had no obsessions, they wouldn’t have a strong heart.

"Today, Mr. Lin’s words have indeed enlightened me."

Fairy Ni Chang smiled vaguely, her state of mind slightly disturbed by the recent events that resulted in only a Fake Pill cultivator from two Core Formation attempts.

As Lin Chang’an prepared for another game, Fairy Ni Chang clearly saw through his intention, unobtrusively put away the chessboard, and then personally began to brew tea.

Looking at the stowed chessboard, Lin Chang’an felt speechless; he had only won three games.

"Mr. Lin, this is freshly picked Spirit Tea, please."

The exquisite teacup was shrouded in mist, emitting a faint fragrance. It was unclear if it was the aroma of the tea or Fairy Ni Chang’s own scent.

Lin Chang’an picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and revealed a look of enjoyment.

"To have you personally brew tea, I’m afraid not many in the entire Profound Sound Pavilion have had this honor."

Hearing Lin Chang’an’s teasing, Fairy Ni Chang naturally and elegantly smiled.

"If you wish, you may visit Profound Sound Peak anytime as a guest."

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang’an smiled and shook his head. Although he hadn’t inquired much over the years, he knew she wouldn’t be content with the Secret Realm.

"If the new generation of the Sect turns out disappointing, what do you plan to do then?"

Putting down the Spirit Tea, Lin Chang’an looked at this determined Fairy Ni Chang, also a bit curious about her thoughts.

One is about the Secret Realm and the path to Nascent Soul, the other about the Sect.

However, in Fairy Ni Chang’s clear autumn-water-like eyes, there was not a hint of struggle. As she placed down her tea cup, the corners of her lips naturally lifted into an extremely subtle, gentle curve of satisfaction.

Not joy, but a kind of serene and relaxed "stolen half-day leisure."

After a moment, Fairy Ni Chang lightly laughed and softly said:

"You once said, there are things you can do and things you can leave undone; Ni Chang feels the same."

Lin Chang’an nodded lightly upon hearing this, knowing the answer.

To Fairy Ni Chang, the Profound Sound Pavilion is home, it’s impossible to forsake the Sect.

If she truly did, she might leave a heart demon for herself in the future.

However, Fairy Ni Chang’s ability to go with the flow without struggle already surpassed many in terms of mindset.

"Indeed, with the current foundation of the Profound Sound Pavilion, I believe it won’t disappoint you."

Lin Chang’an chuckled slightly, seemingly reassuring, but he was quite sure, at least of the two on Celestial Spring Peak, that they had a seventy to eighty percent chance of Core Formation success.

Fairy Ni Chang smiled faintly upon hearing this, her gaze inevitably drifting toward Celestial Spring Peak, hoping the two girls she valued most wouldn’t let her down.

"By the way, I’ve entrusted Mr. Wen, but for the Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir, there’s still one main ingredient missing to start the furnace."

He came here for the matter of the sword servant’s breakthrough, and Fairy Ni Chang also for Liu Ruyu’s breakthrough.

Liu Ruyu has the aptitude of a Low Grade Golden Core, who has now reached a bottleneck. Ordinarily, she wouldn’t waste sect resources.

But Fairy Ni Chang plans to seek fortunes in the Secret Realm, and if she leaves, the Sect will need someone reliable to hold the fort.

By then, having Xu Lingfeng and Liu Ruyu, two Core Formation Middle Stage cultivators, along with a few newly Core Formed next-generation cultivators, the Sect’s safety shouldn’t be a concern.

Fairy Ni Chang could then be at ease pursuing matters regarding the Secret Realm.

"I’ve already found out about this Spirit Fruit; there will be an auction for it at the Four Seas Commerce Association’s market auction in half a year."

Lin Chang’an nodded lightly. The Tier Three Middle Grade Elixir for enhancing cultivation was of considerable value and its materials were hard to find.

Let alone the current turbulent situation; all kinds of materials have long since doubled in price.

Their joint effort in alchemy this time also showed that for the new generation’s Core Formation, the resources at the Profound Sound Pavilion were indeed nearing depletion.

After alchemy, the pills would naturally be distributed according to the materials provided by each side.

The two of them seemed to sense something and couldn’t help but look toward Celestial Spring Peak.

"It’s starting."

Seeing this, Fairy Ni Chang slowly set down her teacup.

The entire process was soundless, even the contact between the cup bottom and the stone table was light as a feather, leaving only a lingering, increasingly tranquil tea aroma, intertwined with her serene aura, deeply soothing.