It's been half a month since the last time at the Gathering Immortals Tower.
Today, Yun Yao personally came to deliver a gift and ended up telling him a piece of news that shocked him greatly.
"The friction among the Three Major Sects has intensified again."
"It's still too dangerous recently; even loose cultivator talisman masters and pill masters have been placed under bounties."
Lin Chang'an was secretly startled; previously, they had only surreptitiously placed bounties on each other's sect disciples.
For instance, the Li Huo Palace inner disciples have bounties based on their cultivation and status, and for some important figures, even Foundation Establishment Pills are offered.
"Their tactics are indeed ruthless, offering bounties on Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion, but not on the families affiliated with these sects."
This is clearly a blatant attempt to sow discord combined with temptation; someone will always be unable to resist, especially when it comes to Foundation Establishment Pills.
And now they're also offering bounties on middle-grade pill masters and talisman masters among loose cultivators, clearly intending to create chaos through them.
"I never expected there would be a day I'd be on a bounty, but why is my bounty so low?"
Lin Chang'an angrily slammed the table, not upset because the bounty was low, but because he now needed to be more cautious when going out.
Anger aside, something seemed to occur to Lin Chang'an, and he couldn't help but stroke his chin, pondering.
"It seems to be more advantageous than disadvantageous for me."
There's always a good and a bad side to everything.
For him, the benefit is that the talismans and pill masters in the market will likely hide their identities unless they align with a sect or major family.
This makes it easier for him to sell talismans, as everyone conducts their dealings in secrecy, not just him.
"In that case, it seems I can make a huge profit."
Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile; other talisman masters do not have his talent for state-locking.
This is a perfect opportunity for him to showcase his abilities.
"Indeed, Yun Yao truly lives up to being a disciple of a major sect, being able to bring out these spells that are rare in the market."
At this moment, Lin Chang'an looked down at the gift Yun Yao had given him in return.
[Wood Spirit Spike]
"Wood Spirit Spike, this is actually a high-level spell used in conjunction with a magical artifact, with the advantage of consuming very little mana and being highly concealed.
The difficulty lies in the cultivator's comprehension of their own wood attribute cultivation technique and mana control, and it requires pairing with a hidden weapon-type magical artifact to be effective."
Upon seeing the introduction in the jade scroll, along with the detailed cultivation process and artifact usage, Lin Chang'an was secretly amazed—indeed, the Immortal Cultivation Realm is full of hidden talents.
It seems Yun Yao had long seen that his comprehension of the Chang Chun Skill was on par with a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, or they wouldn't have given him such a defensive spell.
"But isn't this introduction exaggerated?"
Lin Chang'an frowned. This spell was created a hundred years ago by a Li Huo Palace cultivator based on the elementary spell Spirit Bouncing Finger, once used to fight alone against three cultivators at the same level, achieving a record of one death, one injury, and one escape.
It's well known that the advantage of wood attribute cultivation techniques lies in extended life and gentle mana, with only those of profound cultivation displaying the characteristic of rich and continuous mana.
"Let's try it."
With that thought, Lin Chang'an raised his hand, and a middle-grade Golden Light Talisman appeared, protecting the wall.
Under the faint golden light, Lin Chang'an, with a mindset of experimentation, raised his hand, and a wooden spike appeared, swirling with mana.
A flash of green light!
With a ring, the gold light on the wall only slightly rippled as the wooden spike turned to dust.
However, Lin Chang'an noticed something and couldn't help but inhale sharply, exclaiming:
"What speed!"
And its concealment is extremely high; even at close-range stealth attacks, even with his Qi Refining Fifth Layer cultivation, a slight mistake would be hard to avoid.
"And the attack power!"
When the mana in the wall's golden light talisman had drained to lower-grade levels, Lin Chang'an snapped his fingers, instantly firing off five shots in succession.
Thunk, thunk, thunk!
On the fifth try, it actually penetrated the golden light talisman's defense, leaving a shallow crater on the wall.
"The power is so immense!"
Lin Chang'an was shocked; even the wall was extraordinarily tough—if it were a cultivator, it would directly create a blood hole.
If paired with corresponding flying needle-type magical artifacts, wouldn't it be even more formidable?
"However, this spell's requirements on the cultivator are extremely high."
Lin Chang'an looked down at his flushed fingers with a frown; if based on his comprehension of cultivation techniques and mana control, he was no less than an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.
Yet after just a few attempts, his fingers were already throbbing with pain.
"Extreme compression and rotation, and instant explosive force, each is indispensable!"
[Wood Spirit Spike +48 (Beginner 98/100)]
[Wood Spirit Spike +80 (Proficient 78/500)]
In just a fleeting moment, he had advanced from beginner to proficient in the Wood Spirit Spike spell.
"If paired with a dedicated mana-shield-breaking flying needle type artifact, wouldn't I easily threaten cultivators of the same level?"
Lin Chang'an felt a surge of excitement, and more importantly, the spell's consumption is so low, it completely supports rapid practice to reach the Grandmaster Great Success Realm.
"Hidden weapon-type magical artifacts, though a bit expensive, are completely worth it compared to one's life."
...
As the outside world became increasingly dangerous, the following days saw Lin Chang'an living a reclusive life at home, either cultivating or painting talismans, while using spirit stones to recover mana, mainly focusing on this spell.
Of course, he also added a new routine recently, frequently applying spirit liquid to his fingers to alleviate the pain.
And since Yun Yao borrowed spirit stones last time, it was heard she spent nearly a thousand spirit stones to purchase a defensive upper-grade magical artifact, then disappeared.
Three months later.
Duo Bao Tower.
On this day, Lin Chang'an, disguised as a husky-voiced old man, walked into Duo Bao Tower, established by Profound Sound Pavilion, wearing a bamboo hat.
If Li Huo Palace is known for its strength, then Profound Sound Pavilion is most famous not only for its female cultivators but also for its diverse offerings in elixirs, talismans, and artifact refining.
"Although there's a Spirit Concealment Array in this tower, which helps cultivators hide their identities better, it's best to stay cautious."
Entering, Lin Chang'an nodded silently. Due to the tension over the past two years, Treasure Tower and Duo Bao Tower have openly set up this array to enhance safety in sales.
It's to assure everyone that their safety here is much higher.
"Fellow Daoist, please come in."
Upon entry, he was greeted by a burst of fragrance, followed by two scantily-clad female cultivators warmly welcoming him with smiles.
This made Lin Chang'an couldn't help but sigh; if only it were peaceful, how wonderful it would be to stay here every day.
"I want to buy high-quality magical artifacts."
But remembering the task at hand today, Lin Chang'an didn't hesitate and spoke in a husky voice. One of the female cultivators' eyes lit up instantly upon hearing this.
"Senior, please follow me upstairs."
The female cultivator's quick change of expression made Lin Chang'an click his tongue in surprise, wondering if she was the same at night.
Someone asking for high-quality magical artifacts would likely be looking for middle-grade items, so the two female cultivators naturally greeted him with smiles.
However, these two female cultivators had inferior spirit roots and, aside from showcasing their appearance, had no qualification to access the second floor.
When Lin Chang'an ascended to the second floor, a shopkeeper immediately awaited him at the entrance.
"Fellow Daoist, please."
Spirit tea and spirit fruit were served by a maid with a graceful figure, while the slightly plump shopkeeper cupped his hands with a broad smile:
"I don't know what quality of magical artifacts you seek; our Duo Bao Tower has everything, and even top-grade magical artifacts are auctioned annually."
"You're too kind. I'm just looking for one or two middle-grade magical artifacts for self-defense."
Lin Chang'an's husky voice echoed as he feigned an elderly demeanor.
In the Spirit Concealment Array, no one's cultivation could be discerned, except possibly a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
He just came to buy a middle-grade magical artifact; which Foundation Establishment Cultivator would be so poor as to do that?
Hearing this, the shopkeeper's smile widened even further.