bayedsolid Chapter 380 A Place to Settle Down
Chapter 380 A Place to Settle Down
The arrow is on the string, ready to be fired at any moment.
Li Xiangyang, whose energy was running high, suddenly stopped and instantly sensed a powerful aura.
Faced with this overwhelming aura, he, who was nearly at the peak of Qi Condensation, felt as if he were a small boat in a raging storm, and even breathing became extremely difficult.
Li Xiangyang's face turned pale instantly, and a sense of fear welled up in his heart.
Could it be a senior member sent by the 'Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce' to secretly protect Xiaoli?
The thought made him tremble slightly with fear.
But upon closer reflection, this woman had been staying in the sect for months without leaving. Today, she was tricked into leaving the sect by him. The incident was sudden, so she shouldn't have had the opportunity to contact the Chamber of Commerce.
"I don't know which senior is here. I am Li Xiangyang, a third-generation disciple of 'Cangming Mountain'. If I have disturbed you, I would like to apologize to you in person..."
Li Xiangyang mustered his courage, carefully considered his words, and asked weakly.
However, he still made sure to tidy up his sect attire and deliberately revealed his identity as a disciple of 'Cangming Mountain'.
Even without seeing the other person, the former remained obedient, standing cautiously in place, not daring to make the slightest move.
Although his cultivation level was not high, he was, after all, a disciple of 'Cangming Mountain', and his knowledge was superior to that of ordinary Qi Condensation cultivators.
The powerful spiritual pressure from before was so awe-inspiring that it was difficult to even muster the slightest thought of resistance.
Even within the sect, the 'Master of Skill Transmission' who taught them daily, with his mid-Foundation Establishment realm, was far inferior to him.
Therefore, Li Xiangyang was almost certain that the owner of this aura was most likely a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
Even within the entire Cangming Mountain sect, cultivators of this level are rare.
"roll!"
As Li Xiangyang waited anxiously, a cold voice rang out.
His tone revealed no emotion.
Although it wasn't exactly kind, it was like heavenly music to Li Xiangyang at that moment. He breathed a long sigh of relief, feeling as if he had been saved from a desperate situation.
"Thank you for your mercy, senior. This is my good friend, she is very beautiful, and she is still a virgin. I offer her to you for your enjoyment..."
Li Xiangyang felt like he had been granted a pardon and couldn't wait to leave. As he spoke, his gaze swept over the disoriented girl on the ground, and he felt a little sorry for her.
However, facing a mysterious and unpredictable senior master, he did not hesitate at all, pushed his movement technique to the limit, and used his flying magic weapon to escape in a sorry state.
"What bad luck! The cooked duck flew away. That old bastard got off easy."
They returned to the outskirts of 'Mingyu Immortal City' in one breath.
Looking at the broad and majestic city walls and the disciples guarding the city gate, whose dark blue attire matched his own, he finally felt at ease.
"I've been scheming for days, but in the end, I've only made a wedding dress for someone else."
"Hmph, so what if she's in the late Foundation Establishment stage? If Xiaoli doesn't return in a few days, I'll report this to the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce. They have a Golden Core cultivator in charge, and they'll make you pay for this thievery!"
Li Xiangyang felt his anger was hard to quell and was filled with resentment.
What pained him even more was that Hu Xiaoli's storage bag still contained 'Foundation Building Pills' and many other Foundation Building spiritual items.
……
In the mountains and forests.
Under the moonlight, a petite girl lay quietly on the fallen leaves in the forest.
Beneath her disheveled clothes, a layer of crimson tinge clung to her fair skin.
The next moment, a pale green aura spread out, lingering around the girl and gradually seeping into her body.
In an instant, Hu Xiaoli's breathing rate gradually returned to normal, and the unusual redness on her skin gradually disappeared.
A short while later, the girl opened her eyes, her gaze initially filled with panic, but she quickly calmed down.
After looking around, he quickly straightened his clothes.
At the same time, she gradually recalled what had happened before.
She thought of the lover she had been devoted to for many years, who disregarded her cultivation prospects, went against her wishes, and even plotted to seize the opportunity to establish her foundation.
After being threatened by an unknown senior, he decisively abandoned her and fled alone.
Thinking of this, Hu Xiaoli felt sad and resentful.
Heartbroken, she even had suicidal thoughts.
"This woman was naive and did not know how to judge people properly. I am very grateful for your help, senior."
"To express my gratitude to you, senior, I am willing to be at your mercy until dawn."
Two lines of clear tears rolled down Hu Xiaoli's pretty face, her voice cold and resolute.
"I have no interest in little girl like you. I only made my move because I happened to be passing by."
"The path of cultivation is long and arduous. Only by breaking through the current bottleneck can we see a wider world."
"The Qi Condensation Realm, spanning a hundred years, encompasses not only the present hardships but also poetry and distant horizons."
The simple words echoed in the quiet night.
"It's not just about the present hardships, but also about poetry and distant dreams..."
These two simple sentences seemed to possess some kind of magical power, inspiring Hu Xiaoli's anticipation for the future.
She found it incredibly novel; no one had ever uttered such fresh and unconventional words before.
"Senior, I humbly request that you appear in person so that I may express my gratitude in person."
After a few words of persuasion, Hu Xiaoli seemed to be reborn, and she mustered up her courage to speak to the empty surroundings with hope in her eyes.
……
The next day.
Mingyu Immortal City, the headquarters of the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce.
"Senior Lin, Elder Wu has come to visit and is waiting in the reception hall."
In an elegantly decorated room, a petite woman named Hu Xiaoli knocked on the door and spoke softly.
"Okay, we'll head over now."
Lin Changsheng's calm voice came through.
At dawn, Hu Xiaoli boldly took the initiative to invite him.
After a moment's thought, Lin Changsheng readily agreed.
Early in the morning, the curfew in Mingyu Immortal City ended, and the two entered the city and arrived at the branch of Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce located there.
In his view, the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce had a moderate influence in this area, making it a suitable place to stay temporarily, saving him the trouble of finding another place to live.
After arranging accommodation for Lin Changsheng, Hu Xiaoli immediately reported the matter.
Master Wu is an elder of this branch, with a pseudo-core cultivation level.
Upon learning that a junior member of the Chamber of Commerce had invited a Golden Core cultivator as a guest, the Chamber took the matter very seriously. They immediately summoned Hu Xiaoli, inquired about the general situation, and then quickly tidied their clothes before paying a visit.
About half an hour later, Lin Changsheng arrived at the reception hall, led by Hu Xiaoli.
"Hehe, it is an honor to have Master Lin grace us with his presence. This humble old man, Wu Tianhao, greets Master Lin."
Approaching was an elderly man with a silver beard. At first glance, he appeared old and frail, but he was actually quite vigorous and had bright eyes.
Facing Lin Changsheng, who was at the Golden Core stage, he was all smiles, courteous and polite.
As he spoke, Master Wu subtly observed Lin Changsheng, secretly surprised.
He felt that the Golden Core cultivator in front of him looked very young, but his cultivation was unfathomable. With just a little probing, he could sense the terrifying aura emanating from the other party, which made him feel a little scared.
"This person is not only a Golden Core cultivator, but his cultivation level is definitely above the early Golden Core stage!"
"Logically speaking, there is nothing in the Mingyu Immortal City branch that can attract a Golden Core cultivator of this level."
On the surface, Master Wu was warm and amiable, but in his heart, he was secretly wondering about Lin Changsheng's intentions.
"Master Wu, you're too kind."
"I am a cultivator from out of town, passing through this place for the first time. I was looking for a place to stay when my friend Hu invited me, so I shamelessly came to bother you."
Lin Changsheng smiled and spoke slowly.
They were quite polite in their words.
The old man was extremely pleased to hear the address "Master Wu".
The False Core realm is only one word different from the Golden Core realm, but they are worlds apart.
Normally, these fake Core Formation cultivators call themselves 'True Persons,' but it's just self-comfort and a way to show off their status in front of lower-level cultivators.
However, few dare to call themselves "True Person" in front of a genuine Golden Elixir Master.
Soon, the two began to talk in the reception hall.
During the conversation, Master Wu vaguely expressed curiosity about Lin Changsheng's background.
However, Lin Changsheng did not reveal much, only indicating that he needed to stay in this place for a while.
During this period, a batch of high-level magic talismans may be provided to the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce as appropriate.
"Could it be that Master Lin... is actually a third-tier talisman master!?"
Master Wu was taken aback, but his expression was a mixture of surprise and delight.
In recent years, their Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce has been developing locally, but it has vaguely reached a bottleneck stage.
Relying on the method of reselling goods by transferring them from other chambers of commerce is too costly and time-consuming, and has not cultivated a real means of making money.
Lacking fundamental competitiveness, it is difficult to compete with the large businesses in the area.
A few years ago, a near-third-level alchemist was transferred from the main branch to increase the branch's influence in Mingyu Immortal City by selling pills.
Unfortunately, the near-third-tier alchemist was poached by other merchant forces with a high price shortly after taking office.
This move not only damaged the reputation of the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce in the area, but also made the senior management of the main branch very dissatisfied with the branch in Mingyu Immortal City.
……
A few days later.
Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce spent a lot of money to rent a top-tier third-order spiritual vein dojo in Mingyu Immortal City.
This is already one of the most expensive spiritual practice sites in the area.
Not only are the costs high, but the rental process is also very complicated. Cultivators who use the dojo need to register at Cangming Mountain and accept supervision.
After all, those who rent and use the top-tier third-order spiritual veins here are mostly powerful Golden Core cultivators from outside the region. If they intend to cause trouble, they could be a significant hidden danger.
Fortunately, the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce is quite well-known in the area and has considerable influence. With Master Wu acting as guarantor, the process was simplified, saving time and effort.
In return, Lin Changsheng also provided Wu Zhenren with the first batch of magical talismans.
The majority of the spells are first and second tier spells, with a small number of 'quasi-third tier' spells and several third tier spells.
A few months later.
Having settled down, Lin Changsheng became familiar with the surrounding environment of Cangming Mountain and gained a deeper understanding of the cultivation world of 'Beicang'.
This included information he gathered himself, as well as intelligence provided by the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce.
Besides the cultivation world of Beicang, Lin Changsheng also learned that the neighboring cultivation world of Gunzhou had been affected by war in recent years and was not peaceful. Many low-level cultivators fled to the surrounding areas to avoid the war.
The reason for this was that the 'Blood Shadow True Monarch' of the Blood Extreme Demon Palace accidentally broke the restriction on a teleportation channel, which connected to the heart of the alien race's territory.
Initially, only a small number of low-level alien races were teleported over, and they were not taken seriously.
As time went by, the teleportation channel stabilized and could withstand the teleportation of high-level alien races. By the time it was discovered by other cultivators, the alien races had already gained momentum, broken the restrictions, and launched a large-scale attack, wreaking havoc on the cultivation world of Gunzhou.
This news was quite unexpected for Lin Changsheng.
"With the chaos caused by alien races, the cultivation world of Gunzhou is in turmoil, and it seems unsuitable for focused cultivation."
Lin Changsheng's eyes flickered, and he decided to continue to investigate the details.
During this period, Master Wu tried to arrange for several Foundation Establishment female cultivators of different styles to come and serve Lin Changsheng personally.
But he rejected them all without hesitation.
In the end, only Hu Xiaoli remained to serve him and act as his attendant.
The woman was quite happy about this.
Senior Lin was young and handsome, with a gentle and unassuming temperament, profound and composed, like a jar of mellow old wine.
Hu Xiaoli was perfectly content with simply serving silently by his side, waiting outside the cave every day for orders.
Meanwhile, Wu Zhenren of Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce, in order to curry favor with the guild, also sent the news of Lin Changsheng, a third-level talisman master, joining the guild, along with some talisman samples, to the guild's higher-ups.
……
This day.
The residence of the senior executives of Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce.
A female cultivator in the early stage of the Golden Core realm, dressed in a purple robe, exuding elegance and nobility yet displaying remarkable competence, was handling important news from various branch associations.
"A third-tier rune master has moved in?"
Jin Mengqiao was somewhat surprised when she came across one of the letters.
He then took out the talisman that had been sent with the letter, examined it with his divine sense, and couldn't help but show a look of amazement.
Judging from these few talismans alone, the skill of this talisman master is so exquisite that it even surpasses that of the senior third-tier high-grade talisman master in the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce.
After examining each of the talismans, she seemed to have made a discovery, and then let out a soft "Eh."
The aura of these talismans, as well as the details of their craftsmanship, vaguely resembled a style that was familiar to her.
In reality, many crafts, such as talismans, elixirs, magical artifacts, and formations, are influenced by various factors such as the craftsman's skill, habits, and lineage, resulting in some subtle characteristics.
Ordinary cultivators might not pay much attention, but high-level craftsmen or cultivators skilled in appreciation can easily spot the clues.
"Lin San Gou, a third-tier talisman master?"
"What kind of Golden Core cultivator would have such a vulgar name? It seems that this Lin Fu Master must be using an alias."
Jin Mengqiao gently grasped the third-tier magic talisman in her jade-like hand and fell into deep thought.
Suddenly, an idea struck her, and the image of a white-clad man, whom she had almost forgotten, flashed into her mind.
"Master Lin... his talisman-making technique is almost identical. Could it be him?"
Jin Mengqiao suddenly recalled that seventy or eighty years ago, when she was just a deacon in a branch of the Xuanmiao Chamber of Commerce, she had worked with that Master Lin.
"However, that Lin Fu Master was also at the Foundation Establishment stage back then. In just seventy or eighty years, he not only advanced to the Golden Core stage, but also reached the mid-Golden Core stage, and still had the energy to improve his talisman-making skills. This seems a bit illogical."
Jin Mengqiao didn't want to connect the two things in her heart.
I remember back then, after her status in the Chamber of Commerce rose, the higher-ups recruited this current third-tier high-grade talisman master.
That talisman master was dispensable to her.
In addition, the other party was very arrogant and unwilling to sign a long-term contract with the Chamber of Commerce.
So on one occasion, when that Lin Fushi came to her door to buy resources, she didn't pay much attention to him and treated him somewhat poorly, eventually completing a transaction at a premium.
Since then, there has been no further news of Master Lin.
"The senior talisman master in the Chamber of Commerce is now nearing the end of his life, and his energy and skills have declined. Regardless of whether this Master Lin is related to the Master Lin of yesteryear, he is worth winning over."
Jin Mengqiao frowned slightly, a thoughtful look appearing in her starry eyes.