Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

Chapter 782: Chapter 373: Returning to Prepare for Seclusion

Five Dragons Island Market.

With the arrival of six Core Formation Cultivators from the Profound Sound Pavilion, many could feel the pressure from the current leading sect in the Five Dragons Island Sea Region.

"I heard earlier that there will be several Spirit Fruits that enhance cultivation at this auction; I came especially to trade for such an item."

Upon entering the grand hall, Fairy Ni Chang showed no sign of frailty, casually engaging in conversation with others while disclosing her intentions for this visit with a light and breezy smile.

This immediately made other Core Formation Cultivators present glance at each other; some were astonished, some watched with interest, and others looked rather displeased.

A year ago, when the Four Seas Commerce Association held this trading event, they specifically promoted that there would indeed be some valuable Spiritual Objects, including the Spirit Fruits mentioned by Fairy Ni Chang.

However, Fairy Ni Chang’s words seemed to suggest she was unaware, and other cultivators from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance also feigned ignorance.

"Oh, it’s those Spirit Fruits. Initially, I was interested, but since Fairy Ni Chang has spoken, I naturally have nothing to say."

"Indeed, indeed. I heard that those wishing to trade for the Spirit Fruits only wanted to exchange for some Magical Treasure materials. Coincidentally, over these years, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance has mined many rare Spiritual Ores."

"Exactly."

The cultivators from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance exchanged remarks, as their mining of Spiritual Ores was well known, so it didn’t matter much.

Moreover, their words clearly aimed to see the Four Seas Commerce Association squirm.

Many people even sneered with a schadenfreude expression.

You advertised a year ago, but you traded this item two months ago; isn’t this a slap to your own face?

Also, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance was likely feigning ignorance, how could they not know?

Seated, Lin Chang’an watched this scene, his eyes flickering.

It seemed the situation was tenser than he had imagined.

The market was only so big, and naturally, there would be a conflict of interest between the Four Seas Commerce Association and the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Given the chance to strike at an opponent, no one would miss it.

"Moreover, the Four Seas Commerce Association’s trading partner this time is a cultivator from the Red Fire Sect."

The Red Fire Sect, an external Demon Dao force, hasn’t had good relations with Bihai Palace amidst the years of turmoil.

Thinking about this, Lin Chang’an seemed to understand something, and he calmly smiled, taking a sip of Spirit Tea.

He didn’t want to get involved in these factional struggles, and for Fairy Ni Chang’s Profound Sound Pavilion to reach this point, it wasn’t always up to her to do as she pleased.

Clarifying one’s stance was important, and this was also an opportunity to criticize a competitor, the Four Seas Commerce Association.

"Master, even without the elixirs, I can break through in at most three to five years."

The Sword Servant beside him was well aware of his master’s purpose for this visit, which was also to arrange the refining of elixirs for his own cultivation.

Hearing the Sword Servant’s voice, Lin Chang’an nodded slightly, transmitting:

"Take whatever you fancy at this trading event; the peaceful times won’t last long, and currently, everyone is sparing no effort to increase their strength."

As Lin Chang’an and the Sword Servant quietly communicated, the trading event commenced.

However, the atmosphere at this trading event was somewhat off, especially with the cultivators from the Four Seas Commerce Association looking displeased.

Even within the Four Seas Commerce Association, some were dissatisfied with the actions of the Liang and Zhu families, as well as Meng Xinghai.

You’ve secured the treasured items through this trade, but have you considered the damage to the association’s reputation?

"Haha, turns out this is the famous Fairy Ni Chang from the Outer Sea. Had I known it was you who desired those Spirit Fruits, I would not have vied for your cherished items."

Who would have thought that a cultivator from the Red Fire Sect was also present at the trading event?

This white-faced scholar-like person, full of smiles, cupped hands towards Fairy Ni Chang. Though his tone was humble, his eyes revealed a mischievous playfulness.

"How unexpected that a fellow Daoist from the Red Fire Sect is still in the Five Dragons Island Market."

Seeing this, Fairy Ni Chang seemed to have an epiphany, yet her rhetorical question highlighted Bihai Palace’s recent dissatisfaction with the Red Fire Sect.

The Red Fire Sect is indeed a Nascent Soul sect, but the Five Dragons Island Sea Region is Bihai Palace’s territory.

Moreover, with True Monarch Lu backing the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, there’s nothing to fear.

This overt and covert confrontation on site made many cultivators secretly distressed, hoping the tensions wouldn’t spill over to affect them.

Yet Lin Chang’an lightly sighed, not expecting matters to escalate this far.

First, external forces like the Red Fire Sect entered the Five Dragons Island Sea Region under the guise of chasing cultivators who’d seized treasures.

Then, internal friction arose between the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and the Four Seas Commerce Association.

"It’s really a mess; I hope it won’t interfere with my cultivation."

Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but frown; he didn’t want his peaceful cultivation environment to be disrupted.

At the very least, before the Secret Realm opens, he needed a stable cultivation environment.

"Ling’Er, after returning this time, immediately enter closed-door cultivation. Although the Tier Three Upper Grade elixirs are unavailable, the Icy Marrow Jade Liquid is also effective."

Co-refining elixirs with Fairy Ni Chang in the Profound Sound Pavilion was comfortable, and he naturally didn’t mind helping the sect along the way.

Since those Spirit Fruits were gone, it didn’t mean he was without other options.

"Yes, Master."

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance and the Four Seas Commerce Association wouldn’t completely sever ties; it was merely market friction over interests.

If the Four Seas Commerce Association weakened by a point, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would gain a point in the market.

As the trading continued, everyone could clearly feel that as the situation grew more turbulent, although there occasionally would be good items, many strategic materials were noticeably scarce.

Particularly Core Formation Spiritual Objects and Spirit Fruits for enhancing cultivation.

In addition, many materials had started to increase in price.

Lin Chang’an felt fortunate; fortunately, over the years on Bibo Island, he had hoarded many materials with his doppelganger, so he wasn’t short of common resources.

"I have a Tier Three Upper Grade Yin Spirit Beast King Demon Pill here, wishing to exchange it for a same-tier Wind Attribute Demon Pill or two Water Attribute Demon Pills."

After observing the trading event for a while and finding it dull, Lin Chang’an remained expressionless and directly tapped his storage bag. A Demon Pill filled with dense Yin Qi appeared at the trading event.

It immediately drew shock from many individuals.

"A Tier Three Late Stage Demon Pill!"

"Hiss! Could it be personally hunted by Master Lin?"

With Lin Chang’an’s current strength, plus a mutated demon beast like the Cyan-Horned Bull and being a Tier Three Array Master himself, few doubted his ability to hunt a Tier Three Late Stage Yin Spirit Beast King.

Just a bit shocked.

Some, who were more calm, thought of the fact that Lin Chang’an himself was a Sword Cultivator, practicing the Blood Evil Master’s Evil Essence Sword Formulas.

The arrays he had been selling in recent years were obviously quite adept at fire attributes, so it wasn’t surprising for them to restrain yin spirits.

"Mr. Lin, I have a Tier Three Upper Grade Water Attribute Demon Pill here. For the rest, I’m willing to use demon beast materials to make up the difference. How about it?"

While there had been no response from the crowd for a long time, suddenly a strange voice spoke up.

A cultivator, shrouded and wearing a bamboo hat, spoke hoarsely, but exuded an aura of yin evil, indicating he was undoubtedly a Demonic Cultivator.

And this Yin Spirit Beast King’s Demon Pill was greatly useful for cultivators practicing yin evil cultivation techniques.

"Oh, I wonder what kind of demon beast materials you have?"

Lin Chang’an, somewhat curious, had been searching for wind attribute demon pills for many years, with little hope.

However, if this stranger could produce sufficient materials, it wouldn’t be impossible to trade.

"Mr. Lin, please have a look!"

As a storage bag floated over, many were curious, but no one dared to use their Divine Sense recklessly to probe it.

Upon seeing the contents of the storage bag, Lin Chang’an squinted his eyes.

Though the person’s yin evil aura was well-hidden, he still sensed a hint of aura, corpse aura!

Unexpectedly, he was quite a rare corpse cultivator.

However, that had little to do with him, as he saw the storage bag contained parts of a water-based demon beast, which were quite valuable upon calculation.

"Thank you, friend."

After seeing it, Lin Chang’an nodded satisfactorily and promptly traded the materials with him.

The pale face beneath the hat showed a hint of joy. With this Yin Spirit Beast King’s Demon Pill, his injuries were certain to recover soon.

Damn those Red Fire Sect bastards, once healed, he would not let them off easily.

"A corpse cultivator, with injuries, and the lingering mana aura of the injury seems to be from the Red Fire Sect’s Cultivation Technique, too."

After the trade, Lin Chang’an secretly sensed, perceiving these subtle details.

In the past, he had also dealt with cultivators from the Red Fire Sect and even read their memories, naturally being well aware of the aura from the Red Fire Sect’s cultivation techniques.

At that moment, he could not help but glance at this Red Fire Sect cultivator and the Four Seas Commerce Association, then retracted his gaze, playing with the Tier Three Water Attribute Demon Pill in his hand.

At least one of his purposes was achieved.

Although he still had some stock of Ice Marrow Jade Spirit Wine, one could never have too much of it.

Water nourishes wood, so the effect would naturally be better when he consumed it. Even though the Sword Servant was a Sword Cultivator, as a woman, she had yin attributes and the dragon bloodline in her body.

Drinking this water attribute Ice Marrow Jade Spirit Wine would benefit her no less than it would him, if not better due to her lower cultivation.

"However, this corpse cultivator is ultimately a menace in the Five Dragons Island Sea Region. If disturbances occur, it would certainly be troubling for him."

Regarding any treasure, Lin Chang’an was indifferent. Unless it concerned a Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Object, he wouldn’t take the risk.

If it were a Nascent Soul Formation Spiritual Object, True Monarch of Red Fire would have intervened long ago, leaving no room for others.

Who knows if there’s a conspiracy involved?

Plus, the matter came too inexplicably for him to dive headfirst into it.

The trade fair ended quickly. Lin Chang’an also observed many private trades occurring and saw many faces showing grim expressions.

After all, the situation was becoming increasingly unfavorable, with rising prices for various materials.

Strategic materials were particularly scarce.

For some cultivators who were the sole pillars of their clans, it would be a lie to say they weren’t worried.

...

However, just as the trade fair ended, there came news from the market that traces of cultivators pursued by the Red Fire Sect were found, shocking many.

"Something’s amiss. The news came right after the trade fair ended. Why does it feel like someone deliberately released this information?"

"Indeed, there is clearly deceit involved."

"We should proceed cautiously."

As soon as they emerged, the cultivators of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance all wore grave expressions. It was too coincidental.

Even among the crowd, Lin Chang’an nodded solemnly, without a trace of guilt for this message that his clone secretly released.

"Fellow cultivators, with the Red Fire Sect’s sudden arrival at Five Dragons Island, whether there’s trickery or not, we should remain cautious and not travel alone back and forth to Bibo Island in the future."

Lin Chang’an’s suggestion led many cultivators to nod in agreement.

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an mused, having startled the snake this time, if this corpse cultivator was real, he would be prompted to leave this place.

If there was a plot, he had already forewarned the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

In any case, trading with the corpse cultivator had turned advantageous for him and had unconsciously aided the other party.

Not to mention the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, who would profit by earning Spirit Stones together. There was no way he would allow anyone to hinder his earning of Spirit Stones and cultivation.

"Master."

"Let’s go; we are heading back to Bibo Island."

Lin Chang’an chuckled, heading back in the company of several allies from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, while Fairy Ni Chang bid farewell to three newly promoted Core Formation Cultivators.

This time upon returning, the Sword Servant should retreat to break through, not to mention the Phoenix Cry Bird!

This bird had broken through early, and with a good bloodline, its cultivation speed was indeed fast.

But he wasn’t slow either, almost catching up with this bird himself.

"These days are becoming increasingly unsettled. It seems I should find an opportunity to report the news of my breakthrough to a Tier Three Upper Grade Array Master to the Sixth Elder."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an squinted his eyes.

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance ultimately merely aided True Monarch Lu in earning Spirit Stones, and he was just one among the alliance, attracting little attention.

But breaking through to a Tier Three Upper Grade Array Master would be different. By then, he would genuinely have a Nascent Soul senior backing him.

At least, until entering the Secret Realm, whoever dared to mess with him would first have to consider facing the wrath of this Sixth Elder of Bihai Palace.