Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 22: Inexplicably summoned into the hall, the Chen family ancestor invites the forbidden
In the days that followed, Lin Fan strictly followed the rhythm of swallowing a Qi-enhancing pill every three days, and his magic power improved at an astonishing rate.

He clearly felt that the spiritual power in his body was like a surging river, becoming more and more powerful and profound, and his understanding of the skills was like the sun shining through the clouds, becoming more and more profound.

During his training breaks, Lin Fan never relaxed his demands on himself. Every day, he unwaveringly set aside two hours to focus on drawing talismans and diligently practicing the Five Elements spells.

He sat at the table, concentrating fully. When drawing the talisman, he poured his spiritual power and spirit into every stroke, striving for perfection.

When practicing the Five Elements spell, he was in an open space, and his hands quickly changed the spells. Various primary spells burst out with astonishing power, causing the surrounding air to vibrate.

Furthermore, Lin Fan immersed himself in the fundamental texts of immortal cultivation, absorbing the wisdom and experience of his predecessors. The strange stories and anecdotes from the immortal cultivation world gave him a true appreciation of its vastness and mystery, filling him with yearning.

The records of all kinds of strange and bizarre magical herbs, elixirs, rare treasures from heaven and earth, as well as strange stories and treasures, made him fascinated, as if opening a door to a new world.

Through continuous learning and accumulation, Lin Fan's knowledge of cultivating immortals has become increasingly rich, laying a solid foundation for his path to cultivating immortals.

Time flies by like a fleeting moment.

In the blink of an eye, a month has passed.

One day, Lin Fan suddenly received a summons from the Chen family's ancestor. A Chen family elder in the Foundation Establishment stage came in person and led Lin Fan to meet the ancestor.

Lin Fan was completely confused. He didn't know this Chen family's Jindan stage ancestor at all, and he really couldn't understand why the other party was looking for him.

Filled with doubts, Lin Fan silently followed the Foundation Establishment Elder. Along the way, he tried to find clues from the Elder's expression and words, but the Elder remained stern and silent.

Finally, they arrived in front of a magnificent hall. The elder stopped and said to Lin Fan, "Go in. The ancestor is waiting for you inside."

Lin Fan took a deep breath, calmed himself, and walked into the hall with a slightly heavy step. As soon as he entered the hall, Lin Fan saw Chen Minghui sitting upright on a carved chair made of thousand-year-old ironwood.

Lin Fan hurried forward, bowed, and said, "I am Lin Fan, paying my respects to the Chen family's ancestor."

Chen Minghui raised his eyes slightly, his gaze lingering on Lin Fan for a moment. His voice was low but magnetic, "No need to be polite. Stand up and answer."

Lin Fan straightened up and stood with his hands hanging down, feeling increasingly uneasy. He had no idea what the Chen family ancestor's intention was in summoning him.

Only then did Lin Fan have the chance to take a closer look at Chen Minghui, the patriarch of the Chen family. He looked to be no more than forty years old, and time seemed to have been particularly kind to him, leaving few traces on his face, instead adding a touch of the unique charm of a mature man.

His sword-like eyebrows slanted into his temples, his eyes deep and bright, like the cold stars twinkling in the night sky, with occasional flashes of brilliance, as if he could see through the mysteries of the world. Beneath his high nose bridge, his thin lips were slightly pursed, his features firm and cold, and a neatly trimmed chin beard only accentuated his calmness and majesty.

Chen Minghui was wearing a black robe embroidered with golden silk threads, outlining mysterious and complex patterns. The robe swayed slightly with his every move, faintly emitting powerful spiritual power fluctuations, demonstrating his profound cultivation foundation in the Jindan stage.

Around her waist was a belt of the same material, inlaid with a crystal clear jade pendant. The jade pendant was engraved with the Chen family emblem and exuded a warm luster. It was obvious at first glance that it was no ordinary item.

Chen Minghui's slender, powerful fingers tapped the armrests gently, making a rhythmic sound. He stared at Lin Fan with a sharp gaze filled with admiration and expectation, and said slowly:
"Lin Fan, I heard you shone brightly at the Ascension Conference. Your extraordinary strength truly caught my attention. Right now, I have something to discuss with you. I'd like to have you join me on my trip to the Blood Forbidden Land in six months to help me collect several rare spiritual herbs. Don't worry, I won't let your hard work go in vain."

After saying this, Chen Minghui raised his hand slightly. A flash of light flashed from his palm, and a brand-new talisman suddenly appeared. It was a piece of yellow talisman paper emitting a soft halo. On it was a flying sword, its blade shining coldly, and the runes flickered, vivid and lifelike, as if it would break free from the paper and cut through the void in an instant. A powerful spiritual energy rushed towards him, and the surrounding air vibrated.

"This is an extremely extraordinary talisman. I believe it will be of great help to you in the Blood Forbidden Land. Not only that, if you can successfully complete this task, I will accept you as my personal disciple and give you three Foundation Establishment Pills as a reward." Chen Minghui said as he stared into Lin Fan's eyes, trying to catch a hint of desire and excitement in his expression.

"You are currently at a critical stage in your foundation-building efforts. These foundation-building pills are undoubtedly what you need most. After all, with only the one foundation-building pill you have, your three spiritual roots alone cannot guarantee a successful foundation-building. These three foundation-building pills will significantly increase your success rate, allowing you to take a more solid step forward on your path of cultivation."

There was a hint of temptation in Chen Minghui's voice. He knew very well that this generous reward was an irresistible attraction to young people like Lin Fan.

Lin Fan chuckled bitterly inwardly. He knew that in this world of immortal cultivation, where the strong prey on the weak, he had no room to refuse. The Chen family patriarch before him, a powerful Jindan stage cultivator, meant his words were practically an irresistible command to a junior like Lin Fan.

In this world of immortal cultivation, the rule of the strong prevailing is fully demonstrated. The weak are like ants, their life and death determined by the whims of the powerful, and they have no say.

If Lin Fan rashly refused at this moment, he couldn't imagine what would happen next. Perhaps, he would remain in this hall forever, never to step out again. Or perhaps, tomorrow, the entire Yellow Maple Valley would spread the news that he, Lin Fan, had dared to offend his master and was therefore killed on the spot. By then, no one would speak up for this insignificant figure, his death would be just another forgotten incident in the world of immortal cultivation.

Lin Fan took a deep breath, suppressing the frustration and resentment in his heart. He raised his head, forced a respectful smile on his face, and bowed to the Chen family ancestor, saying, "Lin Fan thanks you for your trust and kindness. It is an honor to serve you. Lin Fan will do his utmost to complete the task you have entrusted to him and will never let you down."

While speaking, Lin Fan tried his best to make his voice sound firm and sincere. Although deep down he didn't want to go to the "blood forbidden land", in the face of this cruel reality, he had no choice but to compromise and comply in order to find a chance of survival in this crisis-ridden world of immortal cultivation.

"Very good," Chen Minghui nodded slightly, a look of satisfaction on his face, and then he raised his hands and clapped them gently. The crisp applause echoed in the empty hall, and soon a beautiful girl with a graceful figure walked in slowly with light steps.

At the same time, three cultivators at the thirteenth level of Qi training walked in. All three were in their thirties.

A tall and burly man, like an iron tower, with steady and powerful steps, thick arms and bulging muscles, giving people a strong sense of oppression.

He looked like a white-faced scholar, dressed in a green shirt, holding a folding fan, with an elegant demeanor and a refined look between his eyebrows.

A man with a sinister and cunning face, triangular eyes, thin lips, and a wandering gaze, making him hard to trust.

After the three of them stood still, they bowed to Chen Minghui and said, "Greetings, Ancestor."

The girl was dressed in a pale pink silk dress, the hem of which fluttered gently in the wind, like peach blossoms in full bloom in spring, delicate and charming. She had a beautiful face, eyebrows as dark as distant black, eyes as bright as autumn water, skin as white as snow, and her long, shiny black hair was neatly tied into a bun, dotted with a few crystal clear pearls, adding to her gentle and elegant appearance.

The girl held an exquisite tray in her hands, on which were neatly placed several jade bottles. The jade bottles exuded a warm luster, and the bottles were carved with exquisite patterns, revealing a subtle sense of mystery.

Chen Minghui pointed at the jade bottles on the tray and said to Lin Fan, "Take these bottles of pills back and concentrate on your cultivation. You must break through the thirteenth level of Qi training before leaving.

This journey into the Blood Forbidden Land is fraught with danger. Only with a strong individual can one secure a place within and gain more opportunities and fortune. With your current strength, if you can break through to the thirteenth level of Qi training, your chances of survival will be even greater once you enter."

"These people are all members of the Chen family. After you enter the forbidden area, you can act together and cooperate with each other."

Chen Minghui glanced at Lin Fan and the three cultivators with a serious expression.

Lin Fan and the others responded in unison: "We will follow the ancestor's teachings!"

Chen Minghui nodded slightly and continued, "The forbidden area is fraught with dangers, so be careful. However, there are also opportunities. If you can gain something, it will be of great benefit to your cultivation."

"Yes!" everyone responded again, feeling nervous and full of anticipation.

Lin Fan respectfully stepped forward and took the tray with both hands. His gaze swept over the jade bottles, and a slight thought crossed his mind. He knew these elixirs would be a significant aid to his cultivation. He bowed to Chen Minghui again and said sincerely, "Thank you, Old Ancestor, for this gift. Lin Fan will cherish these elixirs and cultivate diligently, striving for a swift breakthrough." With that, he carefully held the tray and slowly withdrew.

Lin Fan returned to his residence with mixed feelings and immediately began preparing for his retreat. He knew full well the dangers and hardships of this journey to the Blood Forbidden Land, and every minute and second of cultivation was precious. However, despite Chen Minghui's earnest words when he bestowed the elixir, Lin Fan remained vigilant.

In this world of immortal cultivation, where hearts are unpredictable and the world is full of twists and turns, vigilance is essential, like a solid shield. Lin Fan pondered, while this elixir may seem incredibly precious, what if it holds a hidden secret? Wouldn't his life and death be instantly at the mercy of others? After all, the Chen family's ancestor possessed unfathomable cunning, and there was no guarantee he wouldn't tamper with the elixir to achieve some ulterior motive.

Lin Fan carefully placed the bottles of pills in a corner of the room, deciding not to use them for the time being. Instead, he took out the Qi Gathering Pills from his storage bag and swallowed them. His pills, enhanced by the Qiankun Creation Cauldron, were far more effective than those of ordinary pills.

He sat cross-legged, closed his eyes and concentrated, first practicing the Qingmu Jue, slowly mobilizing the spiritual power in his body, allowing it to circulate back and forth in the meridians to achieve the best state of cultivation.

Afterward, Lin Fan picked up a Qi Gathering Pill he had refined and placed it in his mouth. The pill melted instantly, and a surge of spiritual energy instantly spread out, slowly flowing along the designated meridians. Lin Fan hurriedly guided this spiritual energy, allowing it to blend with his own spiritual energy, gradually strengthening his meridians and spiritual foundation.

In this quiet room, Lin Fan immersed himself in his cultivation, oblivious to the turmoil of the outside world. Time seemed to stand still, with only the gentle flow of his spiritual energy and his increasingly resolute faith in cultivation resonating within this small space.

He secretly made up his mind to improve his strength as much as possible in this limited time. He also needed to continue to make primary and high-level talismans every day. This kind of high-level talisman has extremely powerful combat capabilities. If he could have dozens of primary and high-level talismans, even a strong man in the Foundation Establishment Stage could be easily blown into pieces.

(End of this chapter)