Mortal Cultivator: Lin Tianzun

Chapter 67 Overcoming difficulties and finally achieving perfection

On the long and arduous journey, Lin Fan dared not pause, rushing non-stop from market to market. Each market held his hopes of gathering elixirs and achieving breakthroughs in his cultivation. However, the path to immortality is always bumpy and difficult, never smooth sailing. Along the way, greedy gazes followed him like ghosts, and the robbery cultivators were like vicious wolves lurking in the darkness, waiting for the right moment to pounce on him again and again.

In a desolate desert, several Tribulation Cultivators, seizing the moment of his weakened magic, swarmed out from behind a sand dune, their magical weapons gleaming with a chilling light, intent on taking him down in one fell swoop. Lin Fan's face remained stern, his expression calm. He instantly unsheathed the Star-Breaking Sword, its blade slicing through the scorching air with a sharp whistling sound, threatening to rip the still, silent desert apart. The Primordial Shield and the Condensing Light Mirror also rose in tandem, these three top-tier magical weapons working together to form an impenetrable offensive and defensive system. A fierce clash ensued, swords flashing, spiritual energy surging, and yellow sand swirling like a golden mist. Under his fierce counterattack, some Tribulation Cultivators lay dead on the spot, lying in pools of blood; others, discarding their weapons and armor, fled in panic.

Another time, in a deep canyon, five Tribulation cultivators in the early stages of Foundation Establishment set elaborate traps, attempting to ensnare him. Entering the canyon, Lin Fan keenly sensed the presence of danger, yet showed no sign of retreat. He skillfully exploited the canyon's narrow terrain, maneuvering his Star-Breaking Sword like a nimble dragon, maneuvering through the confined space and deflecting the Tribulation cultivators' attacks one by one. The radiance of the Condensing Light Mirror dazzled the cultivators, disorienting them. The Primordial Shield firmly protected him, like a fortress, denying the enemy any opportunity to exploit. The battle ended, leaving the canyon thick with the stench of blood. The Tribulation cultivators lay sprawled on the ground, but Lin Fan, unharmed, dusted himself off, and continued on his journey.

After countless perilous encounters, Lin Fan finally arrived at the final market town. This was the territory of the Moon-Blanking Sect. From afar, the market town was shrouded in a soft moonlight, as if draped in a silver veil, exuding a mysterious and tranquil aura. A tall gate stood in front, intricately carved with a moon pattern. Its flowing lines were lifelike, and it shimmered with a faint silver light in the moonlight, as if telling an ancient legend.

Upon entering the Yanyue Sect's market, Lin Fan's eyes lit up. Compared to the markets he'd visited before, this place was a world apart. A sense of grandeur washed over him. Along the street, towering buildings rose from the ground, reaching tens of feet high. Their soaring eaves, brackets, carved beams, and painted buildings evoked a magnificent atmosphere. The walls of the towers were covered with exquisite murals depicting immortal cultivation. Some depicted fairies soaring on swords, their figures graceful and their robes flowing; others depicted mythical beasts roaring and galloping, their fur billowing. Each painting was vivid and lifelike, radiating a faint spiritual glow in the sunlight, as if bringing the fantastical scenes of the immortal world to life before his eyes.

The multi-story stone houses nearby are also unique. The stones are polished to a smooth, even surface, with seamless seams between them, showcasing exceptional craftsmanship. The doors and windows of the stone houses are carved with various designs of flowers, birds, fish, and insects, with delicate lines and exquisite knifework, exuding an air of simple elegance. In front of and behind the houses, spiritual plants are placed, some emitting a unique, fragrant, and refreshing aroma, while others shimmer with a dazzling and captivating brilliance, adding a touch of vitality and mystery to the market.

The pavilions scattered throughout are truly exquisite. Their roofs are clad in glazed tiles, which, in the sunlight, refract a vibrant, multicolored light, resembling a rainbow. Inside, stone tables and benches are placed, where cultivators often rest, socialize, and share their experiences. Surrounding the pavilions, a stream flows, its bottom visible. Palm-sized spirit fish swim in the water, their scales shimmering like stars. Occasionally, they leap from the water, sending up a shimmering spray that creates a vibrant melody.

Lin Fan strolled along the bustling streets, his gaze drawn to the dazzling array of shops. Some sold a variety of rare magical instruments, including swords, knives, shields, and tripods. Each item exuded a powerful spiritual energy, as if telling of its extraordinary origins. Others were filled with a wide variety of elixirs, ranging from those for healing and restoring spiritual power to those for enhancing cultivation. The variety was so vast that it felt like entering a treasure trove of elixirs. Still others specialized in spiritual plants, minerals, and other materials for cultivating immortality. The shelves were filled with bizarre items, each carrying unique value, waiting to be discovered by those destined to discover them.

In the center of the market town stood a vast circular plaza, bustling with activity. In the very center of the plaza stood a massive statue of the Moon Goddess, radiating a soft silver light, as if echoing the bright moon in the sky, protecting the cultivators of this land. Lin Fan squeezed through the crowd and arrived in front of the statue. Looking up, he saw the Moon Goddess's face, benevolent, eyes slightly closed. In her hands, she held a brilliantly radiant spirit pearl, as if conveying endless blessings to the world.

Lin Fan knew full well that behind this prosperity lay the power of the Moon-Shattering Sect, a force to be reckoned with. He collected his thoughts, carefully blending into the crowd and beginning a careful search for the remaining spiritual herbs in the recipe. He silently prayed that he could complete his long journey of searching for the medicine in this last market place.

Lin Fan came to the most imposing "Lingyuexuan", looked up at the large, bold, gold-plated characters on the plaque, took a deep breath, and stepped over the threshold.

Stepping into the shop, a vast hall, spacious enough to easily accommodate hundreds of people, suddenly opened up. The ceiling was densely inlaid with moonstones, emitting a soft, bright glow that illuminated the entire hall like daylight. Lin Fan narrowed his eyes slightly. The light was pure and warm, without any impurities. He must have cut and polished it from extremely rare, high-grade moonstone.

In the hall, dozens of young maids moved gracefully, dressed in moon-white silk gowns embroidered with pale blue cloud patterns on the cuffs and hems. Their sleeves fluttered as they moved, like fairies descending from the earth. Seeing Lin Fan enter, one of the maids, with a beautiful face and a gentle demeanor, shuffled gracefully, approaching him with a graceful sway. She bowed slightly, her voice soft as a spring breeze, "Dear guest, what are you looking for? We at Lingyuexuan have all sorts of rare and precious items."

Lin Fan took out a jade slip and handed it to the maid before him, saying calmly, "I need quite a few things, all of which are recorded on this slip. You can take a look." The maid respectfully took the slip and inserted her spiritual sense into it. She was slightly astonished at the sight, thinking to herself, "Wow, so many things!" Fortunately, the slip was clearly labeled, and everything from mature spiritual herbs to seeds and seedlings would be acceptable.

After she had read through the jade slip, she raised her head, a professional smile on her face, and said, "Senior, we have about forty kinds of the spiritual medicines mentioned in the jade slip. I wonder if you only want these forty, or all of them? If you want all of them, I'm afraid our shop won't be able to collect them all at once, and it will take some time."

Lin Fan was delighted. Forty varieties far exceeded his expectations. After a moment's thought, he said, "Prepare these forty for me first. As for the rest, if you can help keep an eye out for them, I'll reward you handsomely."

The maid nodded and replied, "Don't worry, senior. Our shop has been operating in this market for many years and has a wide network of contacts. But finding elixirs sometimes depends entirely on chance. We will do our best." After that, she turned and entered the inner hall. After a while, she brought a few shop assistants and placed jade boxes on the counter.

"Senior, these are the forty spiritual herbs you requested. Please examine them," the maid said. Lin Fan stepped forward and opened the jade boxes one by one. The herbs within were vibrant in color and rich in spiritual energy, clearly of the highest quality. He nodded in satisfaction and said, "Not bad, you've prepared them with great care."

"I wonder how many spirit stones these spiritual medicines cost?" Lin Fan looked calm, his eyes sweeping across the jade boxes on the counter.

"Senior, two thousand low-level spirit stones." The maid smiled gently and answered softly.

Lin Fan nodded slightly and reached into his storage bag. A flash of light flashed from his fingertips, and twenty mid-level spirit stones appeared in his palm. He handed them over with a smooth and neat movement. A flicker of surprise flashed in the maid's eyes. Mid-level spirit stones were worth more than a hundred times as much as low-level ones. The huge price difference alone would earn her a generous commission on this single transaction.

"Thank you for your patronage, senior." The maid quickly took the spirit stone, checked it carefully, and put it away carefully.

Lin Fan said nothing. His hands danced like a phantom, picking up the jade boxes on the counter one by one and quickly storing the elixirs inside into his storage bag. After doing all this, he glanced at the maid, turned around, and walked out of the shop with a steady pace.

From that moment on, Lin Fan remained in the Yanyue Sect's market for a full year. During this time, he traveled through the streets and alleys of the market every day, leaving no stone unturned as to where a spiritual medicine might be hidden. Whether it was the bustling main streets or the secluded, secluded alleys, his footprints were left behind.

He frequently visited various shops, chatting and befriending them. With his extensive knowledge of pharmacology and sincere attitude, he won the favor and trust of many shop owners. These shop owners also kept an eye out for the elixirs they needed for him, and would notify him as soon as new stock became available.

Lin Fan was a frequent visitor to the market square. He frequently interacted with the cultivators setting up stalls, carefully examining their wares, never missing a single opportunity. Sometimes, he would haggle with the stall owner for a long time over a single spiritual herb. With his keen eye and excellent negotiation skills, he always managed to secure the item at a reasonable price.

Hard work pays off. After a year of unremitting efforts, Lin Fan successfully collected more than twenty kinds of spiritual medicines that he didn't have. Looking at the increasingly rich herbs in his storage bag, his heart was filled with satisfaction and anticipation.

Lin Fan sat cross-legged in the inn's quiet room, his eyes slightly closed. His spiritual energy was as calm as a tranquil lake, undisturbed. Beneath this seemingly peaceful appearance, his consciousness raced deep within his sea of ​​​​consciousness. A grand scroll unfolded in his mind, clearly listing the elixirs he had painstakingly collected.

After some careful calculations, surprise blossomed in his eyes. "I've already assembled all eleven ancient elixir formulas!" Successfully refining any one of these recipes would cause quite a stir in the world of immortal cultivation. These ancient elixirs could significantly boost cultivation, and when encountering bottlenecks, these powerful elixirs could be used to forcibly break through them.

"The five common pill recipes are also complete." Although these common pill recipes are not as rare as the ancient ones, they can also speed up the cultivation speed several times.

"It's time to go back," Lin Fan whispered softly. His voice, though soft, was filled with undeniable resolve. On this long journey to find the elixir, he had endured countless hardships and dangers, battling desperately against the Tribulation Cultivators. Now, with a rich harvest, it was time to return to the sect and retreat into seclusion to refine these elixirs, transforming them into tangible gains in strength.

He slowly stood up, his spiritual energy quietly receding, transforming into the appearance of an ordinary immortal cultivator. After packing his things and taking one last look around the quiet room he had lived in for so long, Lin Fan stepped out of the inn, his figure gradually blending into the bustling crowd of the Yanyue Sect market, and began his journey home.

(End of this chapter)