Immortal Road.

"Oh dear, look at my memory!"

Xing Shuzi quickly slapped his forehead, but seeing Lin Shan's unfriendly gaze, he immediately changed his tune and smiled apologetically.

"Actually, I've always remembered, but I couldn't find you, otherwise I would have given it to you long ago!"

"Oh? Is that so?"

"Of course, we have a contract."

Having said all that, there was no room for reneging, and Xing Shuzi obediently handed over his alchemy inheritance.

Lin Shan took the document, flipped through it, and asked casually.

"Hmm, something seems to be missing?"

"What's missing?"

The other person looked puzzled, took it, looked at it, and then pushed it back to him.

“Nothing’s missing, they’re all here. Brother, you’re still young. If you can settle down and study alchemy properly, you might be able to catch up with me a thousand years from now.”

"."

Catching up with you?

You came in third to last in the alchemy competition, why should I chase after you!
Lin Shan made his point clear, without keeping anyone in suspense.

"Why didn't you give me the recipe for the Starry Sky Pill that you refined today, brother?"

"The Starry Sky Pill is something I've been researching and developing on my own over the past ten years or so, so it definitely doesn't count as part of the alchemy inheritance."

Xing Shuzi was taken aback for a moment, then realized what was happening.

"Brother, you want some? Oh right, you're also a Star Cultivator, so Star Pills are a good thing for you too. But you really weren't very generous during the Alchemy Competition earlier, you took three of my pills for just one Grade 7 spirit stone!"

"Huh? Hahaha. Just lucky, just lucky."

Lin Shan chuckled. Why bring up something you shouldn't talk about? He just spouted a whole bunch of fallacies.

"I was just afraid of an awkward silence, so I asked Fellow Daoist Jinchi to just name a price to help you out. I didn't really mean to take advantage of you, brother. Who knew you'd win with just one spirit stone? What a mess this is!"

"Alright, enough nonsense. Here are your spirit stones, but give the pills back."

Clang~
Xing Shuzi threw the seventh-grade spirit stone on the table, telling Lin Shan to return it to its rightful owner immediately.

"No."

"What did you say?"

I said no.

Just moments ago they were all acting like brothers, calling each other "brother" and "older brother" so affectionately, but now they've turned on each other in an instant, leaving Ji Xuanjun and Jinchi Laodao standing nearby completely dumbfounded.

Lin Shan, looking completely unfazed, simply shrugged off.

"I've already used those three Star Pills, so I can't repay you. I'm afraid I can't help you."

"you"

Hoshino's face turned ashen, and she pointed at him with a trembling finger, but in the end she put it down with a bitter look.

There's no other way. This is Xiaorong City, a major town in Yunzhou, where powerful figures gather. Who would dare to make a move here?
Since things have come to this, we can only swallow our pride and bear it.

She forced a smile to show that she wasn't that petty.

"Alright, since you like it, brother, I'll give it to you."

"What do you mean 'given to me'? I paid for this myself!"

"Alright, let's not talk about that. If I remember correctly, you're also a seventh-grade appraiser. Haven't you ever participated in any treasure appraisal competition to try and make a name for yourself and see if you can attract the favor of an immortal?"

Lin Shan immediately got angry when he heard this.

"What do you mean there isn't? The Yunzhou Grand Gathering is all about pre-selected people with connections. Even if I have the ability, what can I do? Without a background, they can just do whatever they want to me. This treasure appraisal event has no value at all!"

At this point, the old Taoist priest Jinchi, who was standing next to him, started talking and recounted the whole story.

When they heard that Lin Shan had won third place, Xing Shuzi and Ji Xuanjun were both so shocked that they couldn't close their mouths!
One is third from the bottom in an alchemy competition, while the other is third from the top in an antique appraisal competition. The difference between them is not just a little bit; it's like the difference between heaven and earth.

"Third place in the treasure appraisal competition? Doesn't that mean you're on a roll?"

The two instantly switched to fawning expressions, stepping forward to inquire about Lin Shan's well-being, practically begging him to give them a hand in their careers.

"Hey, don't even mention it. My third place is no different from your third-to-last place. Nobody cares about us either. Otherwise, why would I have time to come to the teahouse and chat with you?"

As he recounted the unfair treatment he had received, it immediately resonated with Xing Shuzi and Ji Xuanjun, who angrily slammed their fists on the table, startling the servants downstairs who thought the gentlemen upstairs were going to demolish the teahouse!

"This is outrageous! How can the credibility of the Yunzhou Grand Gathering be so blatantly violated?"

Xing Shuzi was frustrated and resentful, and couldn't help but attribute his failure to the many shady dealings in this grand event, as if he could have made it into the top three.

The group chirped for a while before finally stopping.

Then they asked each other about their future plans.

"I'll take it one step at a time for now. First, I'll try to find some cultivation resources, and then I'll go into seclusion to improve my cultivation level."

Lin Shan told the truth; there was no need for him to lie.

Xing Shuzi nodded and told him everything in return.

"I plan to go back to my old ways, rent a few basement rooms in Xiaorong City, and set up a black market to make some quick money."

"Why do you have to rent a basement? Can't you just rent a proper shop?"

"Basements are cheap!"

"."

In general, neither of them had any legitimate source of income. These days, if you want to make money, you either have to sell your labor or do something shady.

In comparison, going fishing with Master Jinchi is much more dangerous.

"By the way, do you know what has become of the old Taoist Huangyue since we parted ways that day, brother?"

Lin Shan had only asked casually, but he didn't expect Xing Shuzi to actually know!

"At that alchemy competition, while I was competing below, the bookmaker who opened the betting pool on the high platform was that old man in disguise."

"really?"

The dealer is none other than the old Taoist priest Huangyue; this man has such a brilliant mind.

"Sigh, we can't compare. After this grand event, that guy will probably make a fortune and instantly rise to the upper class. We commoners can't even look at him anymore." He said goodbye to Xing Shuzi.

Lin Shan turned around and realized it was dark. Several hours had passed without him noticing. The weapon-refining competition had long since ended, and now there was another arena next door with deafening cheers, apparently a martial arts competition between sects.

He and the old Taoist Jinchi watched from afar. They saw the magical treasures flying around and their supernatural powers flashing. Their domains were restricted to a fixed area, and the sounds of their collisions could be heard from afar. Half of Xiaorong City was trembling!
Where else would you find such a carefree and unrestrained battle? These people certainly had a great time.

Finally, the top three were determined in the Nascent Soul, Divine Spirit, and Void Transformation stages. Each of them was an outstanding individual, and their terrifying strength made Lin Shan feel apprehensive. Even he was not confident of winning against them, because these people were all direct descendants of major immortal sects.

Each of them possesses the strength of the peak of the Void Transformation Realm!
Unexpectedly, Wenlingzi did not participate in the competition. Could it be that since she had already participated in the treasure appraisal conference, she could no longer show her skills in the sect martial arts competition?

"This woman's double pupils are terrifying, and her appraisal technique is highly accomplished. If she were to go up there, I'm afraid no one on the field would be her match."

Old Taoist Jinchi sighed.

"Speaking of which, should we really take her with us to go fishing at the Azure Pool?"

Given the disparity in strength between the two sides, it's hard not to feel uneasy.

"It's safer to have more people. The monster in the Azure Cold Pool is no pushover. We might not be able to handle it on our own."

Lin Shan figured he couldn't win a fight, but he might be able to run away, which was his forte!

"The Golden Scaled Dragon Fish is no ordinary fish; it truly needs an expert to oversee it. If it turns on you, you'll have to guarantee my safety."

"rest assured."

Lin Shan offered words of comfort, but in reality, he didn't take it seriously. When disaster strikes, everyone flees for their lives; how can I protect you?
He had just caught up with Xing Shuzi and found that the situation was not optimistic.

Cultivating in the lower realm is relatively easy, but if you want to advance rapidly like a rocket in the immortal realm, you not only need massive resources, but also connections and resources!

His spiritual root talent is good, but even so, it would take him at least several hundred years to cultivate to the mid-stage of the Void Realm just by meditating!
If you don't want to waste your time, you must acquire cultivation resources to accelerate your progress.

Originally, he thought that he would make a name for himself at the treasure appraisal conference, and at the very least be favored by the major powers in Yunzhou, and be invited to join the sect as a guest elder, where he could receive a fixed salary every month without having to do anything. Wouldn't that be wonderful?
Who would have thought it was just his wishful thinking, and no one in reality bought into it!
Those powerful forces aren't fools. What use would they have for you? They only care about your usefulness.

If they are alchemists or weapon refiners, that's fine, but what use are appraisers?
The only offer he received was a position in the Tianjian Division, but he refused, complaining that it was too tiring and that he couldn't stand the hardship of being a beast of burden. He only wanted to gain without working, so how could he possibly obtain resources?

"Does this mean that my only way to quickly improve myself is to rely on my appraisal skills, report to the Observatory, and work hard?"

Lin Shan was hesitant, deeply traumatized by the months of dreary work at Yi Bao Lou, which is why he was willing to agree to go fishing at Bi You Han Tan.

I just hope that things will take a turn for the better.

Two days later, the Yunzhou event came to an end.

This year's competition was incredibly exciting, with many highlights focused on the various elites, while Wen Lingzi, having lost, was able to relax.

She had arranged to meet Lin Shan and Jin Chi, and planned to leave directly after the competition. She even packed her bags before leaving, not intending to come back.

"Fellow Daoist Xing, Fellow Daoist Jinchi, let's go."

The two spent the last two days making some preparations in the city, purchasing the supplies they needed to prepare for their upcoming wild fishing trip.

Wenlingzi threw out a flying spirit boat, its hull undulating like a snake, its stern swaying from side to side, a sight that sparked the imagination.

"Hehehe, this is a flying magical artifact that my great-grandfather passed down to my great-grandmother, and then passed down to me by my great-grandmother. It is said that it can travel to the sky, the ground, and the sea with ease. We'll wait and see when it comes."

The two jumped aboard for a ride, and the ship, ignoring the no-fly zone of Xiaorong City, swaggered away at high speed.

Nobody dares to do anything about it!

The enormous rift valley was steaming, and countless cultivators, like ants, bustled in and out along the way, watching with envy as the ship sailed straight into the azure sky.

After flying for about five hours, guided by the old Taoist priest Jinchi, they finally saw a patch of blue in the distance below the clouds.

Like a sapphire, boundless and eye-catching, it is beautifully set in the earth.

"This is the Azure Cold Pool, which changes color with the seasons. Countless water monsters and spirits live inside. We must be careful not to disturb too many of the creatures in the lake."

The spirit boat drifted down, swaying on the lake like an autumn leaf falling in the wind.

Jinchi Laodao pointed to the shore, which was his first hideout.

"This nest harbors a silver carp at the early stage of the Void Realm. Over the past thousand years, it has consumed countless spiritual foods from me, and its offspring are too numerous to count. I watch as the fish grow and multiply, forming a large group in the vicinity, yet it still fails to bring me joy."

That goes without saying. If you've been fishing for so long and haven't caught anything, how can you still be laughing?
So the old Taoist priest Jinchi came here first, intending to test his skills and see if he could take this guy down.

"Please rest on the boat while I prepare the bait."

As he spoke, the old Taoist Jinchi took out the Duowu fish balls he had bought at the alchemy conference, soaked them in water and waited for them to expand, and then they turned into a sticky lump.

"Perfect proportions!"

The old man, with excitement on his face, began to knead the dough, like kneading dough.

"This bait can't be thrown directly into the water; it has to be used sparingly. I believe that this delicious taste will be irresistible to any aquatic creature."

"Zhǐ~"

As he spoke, the old Taoist priest Jinchi tore off a small piece of bait, and without a word, cast his line, aiming at the main character of this area, which was none other than the bighead carp!
Before the buoy had even been set up twice, it suddenly sank to the bottom of the lake. Had it hit the target?
Master Jinchi was overjoyed:

"As expected, the Mysterious Heavenly Treasure Rod is truly powerful. You caught a big fish on your very first try. Let's see how this old Taoist teaches you a lesson!"

He gripped the pole tightly with both hands and slowly backed away.

The fish below was still struggling, splashing and thrashing about, its strength seemingly considerable, enough to cause the lake to churn!

The old Taoist priest Jinchi used his illusory energy to exert his power, and sure enough, he succeeded in catching the easiest target right away.

He ran back and forth along the lake hundreds of times, but instead of exhausting the fish, he exhausted himself!
When he was so breathless that he could no longer speak, Lin Shan on the boat finally spoke to comfort him.

"Let me do it. Your physical fitness is still lacking, while I've been training for a long time!"

Although he wasn't a physical cultivator, Lin Shan cultivated the stars to forge himself, possessing boundless power. Catching a silver carp would be a piece of cake for him.
But as soon as he got his hands on it, he realized that the waves beneath the surface of the lake were surging, and that immense force seemed to pull people in. He could vaguely see a pair of light bulb-like eyes, like a giant underwater storm.

"Hey, get up!"

As he exerted all his strength, he finally made the underwater creature feel powerless, and it tumbled violently as if it were in a final burst of energy.

"Quick, put the net on, I can't hold on any longer."

Jinchi Daoist hurriedly extended the net, spouting many tips and tricks, but Lin Shan paid no attention, focusing only on what was in front of him.

This silver carp could not escape its fate of being captured. It suddenly flipped over belly up and became a prisoner.

"Quickly, put me back! What are you humans trying to do?"

"doing what?"

Lin Shan grinned maliciously, "Of course, it's soup!"

This fish soup is incredibly nourishing, so I decided to nourish myself first. I immediately heated oil in a pot, added firewood, and strung the fish up from end to end with a branch, then placed it directly over the fire to roast!
Sizzle sizzle sizzle~
Instantly, the silver carp began to ooze oil like crazy, and its aroma filled the air for miles around! (End of Chapter)