Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 65: Powerful Enemies Surround, Sword Shadow Strikes Back
Lin Fan gently wiped the sweat from his forehead. Although he had successfully killed these Tribulation Cultivators, the intense battle had severely depleted his mana, and even his spiritual energy flow had become sluggish. He knew that in this perilous journey of cultivating immortality, maintaining peak condition at all times was paramount.

Without hesitation, he pulled a Soul-Returning Pill from his storage bag. This pill was perfectly round, its surface shimmering with a faint aura. It was an upgraded version of the Soul-Returning Pill, specially crafted to restore the mana of Foundation Establishment cultivators. Lin Fan's storage bag contained several bottles of these pills, ready for any emergencies. Among them was a bottle of meticulously cultivated, top-grade Soul-Returning Pill, which was incomparably more precious.

He tilted his head slightly and placed the Soul-Returning Pill in his hand into his mouth. The pill melted instantly upon contact with his tongue, transforming into a warm current that flowed down his throat and into his Dantian. Instantly, the previously dry ocean of spiritual energy surged and raged, as if being infused with a mighty river.

But Lin Fan knew that the recovery speed of this ordinary Soul-Restoring Pill was far inferior to that of a top-grade Soul-Restoring Pill. His gaze fell on the carefully preserved bottle of top-grade Soul-Restoring Pill in his storage bag, and a flicker of anticipation flashed in his eyes. According to his previous experiments, this top-grade Soul-Restoring Pill could restore over 80% of a Foundation Establishment cultivator's mana in just half a cup of tea.

After a short rest, and once his mana had recovered somewhat, Lin Fan knew it was not a good time to stay here for long. The fight had just taken place, and the violent fluctuations of spiritual energy had wreaked havoc in the area, perhaps attracting the attention of other nearby individuals with ill intentions.

Without the slightest hesitation, he immediately activated a magic formula, his spiritual energy instantly condensing into a blinding streak of light. With a whistling sound, he flew off into the distance like an arrow from a bow. The wind whistled in his ears, and the mountains and dense forests on both sides rapidly receded. However, Lin Fan's mind was not on the scenery along the way; he was only concerned with escaping this troubled place as quickly as possible.

As for those top-grade Soul-Restoring Pills, in Lin Fan's mind, they were an extremely precious strategic reserve. He would never use them lightly unless it was a matter of life and death, or a desperate situation.

As he soared, Lin Fan constantly reflected on his recent battle with the Jie Xiu, carefully considering the gains and losses in his use of magic and magical tools. The path to immortality was a journey of continuous progress through repeated battles and trials. He knew that only by learning from each experience could he become stronger, gain a firm foothold in this world of immortality where the strong prey on the weak, and advance towards higher realms.

Several months later, after a long journey, enduring hardships and sleeping in the open, Lin Fan finally arrived at Huadaowu. As soon as he set foot there, he could sense a strong, everyday atmosphere. This wasn't a large, imposing market town with tall buildings, but rather a bustling scene reminiscent of a bazaar.

Looking out, I saw a network of streets paved with bluestone. Though not wide, they were immaculately kept. Along both sides of the street, shops lined the streets, their signs swaying gently in the breeze. Some were made of wood, some were made of metal, each with its own unique style. Some featured elaborate designs, showcasing the magical treasures, elixirs, or spiritual herbs they sold; others were engraved with bold, powerful characters, highlighting the shop's name and heritage.

Between the shops, there were numerous vendors setting up stalls. Their stalls were filled with a dazzling array of goods, a dazzling array that was truly dazzling. There were faintly glowing magical instruments, which, though not top-tier, still exuded a certain spiritual aura; there were spiritual fruits of various colors, their fragrance overflowing, attracting the attention of passersby; and there were also some strange and bizarre items, rare treasures from who knows where.

Crowds of people came and went, cultivators weaving and weaving through the streets, some hurried to their destinations, others leisurely strolling, pausing to browse among the stalls. There were high-ranking cultivators in ornate attire, their every gesture exuding a distinguished elegance; there were also lower-ranking disciples in simple attire, their eyes filled with desire and curiosity for treasures. The sounds of their conversation and bargaining blended together, forming a boisterous melody of the marketplace.

Lin Fan slowly moved forward with the crowd, scanning the streets, trying to find the elixir he needed. He knew that while these vendors couldn't match the larger shops, they had a wider variety of goods and many hidden gems. He might be able to find some of the elixir needed for the pill formula here.

In the days that followed, Lin Fan immersed himself in the streets and alleys of Jindaowu. Every day, at the crack of dawn, he would traverse the streets, searching every corner for a potential medicinal herb. When he came across a stall selling medicinal herbs, he was overjoyed, crouching down and carefully examining each herb.

His sharp eyes discerned every detail of the herb, from its rhizome and leaf texture to its color and scent. If he was unsure, he would pull out the jade slips he carried with him and double-check with the ancient records.

Once, at a nondescript stall, the owner dozed off, bored, with a few ordinary-looking spiritual herbs displayed. Lin Fan instantly recognized one of them as the "Purple-veined Spiritual Orchid" he had long sought, a crucial ingredient in the elixir recipe. He suppressed his excitement and calmly bargained with the stall owner. After some negotiation, he secured the item at a reasonable price.

Another time, Lin Fan found a bundle of "Ice Soul Immortal Grass" in the corner of a shop. The shop owner didn't take it seriously and just casually placed it in the corner.

Lin Fan's eyes lit up, fully aware of the importance of this magical herb to elixir refining. He engaged the shop owner in a long conversation, detailing everything from the herb's age and efficacy to its intended use in his own elixir-making. Moved by his sincerity and professionalism, the shop owner reluctantly parted with the item.

Just like that, days of searching paid off handsomely. Lin Fan was pleasantly surprised to discover that he had actually found a significant quantity of the medicinal herbs required for the recipe. He carefully placed these precious herbs into his storage bag, and the sight of his overflowing haul swept away his fatigue.

For the next month or so, Lin Fan's footprints were everywhere in the streets and alleys of Huadaowu. He spent his days shuttling between the shops and vendors' stalls, becoming a familiar sight.

Every time he entered a shop, Lin Fan would spend a considerable amount of time carefully examining everything. He would examine every shelf, carefully sorting out each type of spiritual herb, his eyes searching through the dazzling array of cultivation supplies for the ones needed for his elixir recipes.

Whenever he encountered doubts, he would humbly ask the store owner for advice. With his rich pharmacological knowledge and sincere attitude, he always won the favor of the store owner. Many store owners also took the initiative to help him keep an eye out for rare and magical medicines.

Lin Fan was also not careless in front of the street stalls. He squatted down, patiently communicating with the vendors, and carefully examined each seemingly ordinary spiritual herb.

Even in the clamor of a bustling market, he could immerse himself in the activity, focusing on judging the age and quality of the spiritual herbs. Some vendors, moved by his dedication, would enthusiastically refer him to others who might have some, even if they didn't have any themselves.

Lin Fan's daily efforts yielded fruitful results. He gradually collected several elixirs used in the elixir recipes, enriching his storage bag with precious herbs. However, as time passed, finding new targets became increasingly difficult. After several days of fruitless results, Lin Fan realized that there were no more opportunities here. Standing at the entrance of Huadaowu, he looked back at this familiar place, feeling a surge of emotion. The bustle and hustle and bustle here, the enthusiasm and cunning of the stall owners, all became unforgettable memories.

But the road to immortality is long, and there are still many unknowns waiting to be explored. After taking a deep breath, Lin Fan used the escape technique, transformed into a stream of light, and rushed to the next place.

Lin Fan hurried along the winding path, his keen senses allowing him to quickly detect several sneaky figures behind him. He frowned, his peripheral vision catching sight of those figures deliberately keeping their distance, appearing and disappearing in the crowd, their intentions clearly ulterior. However, being in restricted airspace, he couldn't fly to dislodge them, so he could only quicken his pace, attempting to lose them in the crowd.

However, the other party was clearly well prepared. Moments later, as Lin Fan emerged from the bustling town and entered a quiet, dense forest, those figures suddenly appeared like ghosts, surrounding him from all sides and completely blocking his path.

Lin Fan's heart sank as he took a closer look. He saw four Foundation Establishment cultivators standing before him. The leader was a tall, middle-aged man with a hideous scar across his face, his gaze as cold as the cold frost of December. Beside him stood a tall, thin, elderly man with a pointed chin and monkey-like features. His eyes flickered, revealing a shrewd and ruthless aura. The other two, to his left and right, were both muscular young cultivators, their faces thick with flesh, their hands tightly gripping magical weapons, poised for action at any moment.

"Kid, if you know what's good for you, hand over the treasure on your body and don't resist in vain." The middle-aged man with a scar on his face spoke first. His voice was low and hoarse, with an unquestionable sense of oppression.

Lin Fan's face was grim, as he quickly formulated a countermeasure. He slowly stepped back, leaning against a sturdy tree to at least avoid being attacked from both sides. Simultaneously, he quietly reached for his storage bag, ready to draw his magical weapon and fight at any moment.

"You few are not qualified to take my things!" Lin Fan responded without showing any weakness, his eyes revealing determination and resoluteness. In this crisis-ridden situation, he was determined to fight to the death.

Lin Fan's spiritual sense, like an invisible blade, instantly swept across the four people before him, clearly sensing their cultivation levels—one in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, three in the early stages. "Hmph, since you're seeking your own death, don't blame me for being rude!" Lin Fan's voice was firm and cold, as if it came from the Nine Netherworld, revealing undisguised murderous intent.

Before he finished speaking, he slapped his storage bag suddenly, and with a few flashes of dazzling light, three top-level magic weapons, the Star-Breaking Sword, the Hunyuan Shield and the Condensing Light Mirror, instantly appeared in his hands.

The blade of the Star-Breaking Sword was emitting a sharp cold light, as if it could cut everything in the world into powder. The blade trembled slightly, making a low buzzing sound, as if it was excited for the upcoming battle.

The Hunyuan Shield hovered steadily in front of Lin Fan. On the ancient shield surface, mysterious runes flickered with spiritual light, continuously releasing powerful spiritual power fluctuations, building an indestructible defensive barrier.

The Ningguang Mirror slowly rose and hung above Lin Fan's head. The mirror surface was like a deep pool, emitting a mysterious and ancient atmosphere. The light in the mirror flowed, as if accumulating endless power.

"Just you? Don't you even know your own weight!" The scarred man in the middle stage of the Foundation Establishment stage sneered. Instantly, a massive battle axe appeared in his hand, engraved with strange runes. As the runes flashed, a powerful bloody aura rushed towards him. "Go! Don't let this kid get away!"

Following this command, the three cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment instantly sprang into action. The young cultivator on the left, swift as lightning, held a sharp dagger in his hand, flashing with a cold light as he thrust it straight at Lin Fan's throat. Lin Fan's eyes glared, and he swiftly swung the Star-Breaking Sword in his hand. A gust of sword energy whistled out, instantly knocking the dagger away. The young cultivator's knuckles cracked, and he retreated repeatedly.

Seeing this, the young monk on the right roared, swinging his mace with a whirring sound, and smashed it towards Lin Fan. Lin Fan remained calm, manipulating the Primordial Shield to meet the attack. With a resounding "bang," the mace slammed heavily into the Primordial Shield. The powerful impact was firmly blocked by the shield, and the runes on the Primordial Shield glowed even brighter, releasing a recoil force that knocked the young monk back several steps, leaving his arm numb.

At the same time, the old man with a pointed chin and monkey-like face muttered something, his hands forming seals rapidly. Black spells flew out from his hands, entwining themselves around Lin Fan like venomous snakes. The light-condensing mirror above Lin Fan's head flashed, emitting a soft yet powerful light. It collided with the black spells, causing them to dissipate instantly, transforming into wisps of black smoke.

While Lin Fan was dealing with the other three, the middle-aged man with a scar on his face swung his axe with tremendous force, striking Lin Fan in the back. Sensing the danger behind him, Lin Fan dodged quickly, his axe striking the tree trunk with a "crack," creating a deep crack and sending wood chips flying.

Lin Fan took advantage of this moment to quickly form hand seals with his hands, and the sword energy within him surged into the Star-Shattering Sword like a surging tide. The Star-Shattering Sword's radiance surged, transforming into a brilliant sword light that pierced the scarred middle-aged man like a dragon emerging from the sea.

The middle-aged man's face changed drastically, and he quickly raised his battle axe to block. With a loud "bang", the huge impact force made his arm numb, and the battle axe almost slipped out of his hand.

"You are no match for me! Get out of here if you know what's good for you!" Lin Fan roared, his eyes thick with murderous intent. He knew he had to fight quickly, otherwise, if he consumed too much energy, the situation would be unfavorable to him. So, he once again activated the Star-Shattering Sword, launching an even more fierce attack. A thrilling battle continued in the dense forest.

(End of this chapter)