Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 27 Duobao Tower

It has been half a month since the last time we went to Juxianlou.

Today, Yun Yao personally came to deliver a gift, but she told him something that shocked him.

"The friction between the three major sects has intensified again."

"It's still too dangerous lately. Even rogue talisman masters and alchemists have had bounties placed on their heads."

Lin Chang'an was secretly alarmed. Before, they had been secretly offering bounties to each other's disciples.

For example, inner disciples of the Li Huo Palace are offered rewards based on their cultivation level and status, and some important figures are even offered Foundation Establishment Pills.

"Their methods are truly ruthless. They offered bounties to the Li Huo Palace and the Xuan Yin Pavilion, but not to these families that are affiliated with the sects."

This is clearly a blatant attempt to sow discord and entice people; there will always be someone who can't resist the temptation, especially those who want to obtain Foundation Establishment Pills.

This time, the bounty is offered on mid-grade alchemists and talisman masters among the rogue cultivators, which is clearly intended to use rogue cultivators to create chaos.

"I never thought I'd have a bounty on my head, but why is the reward so little?"

Lin Chang'an slammed his fist on the table in anger. He wasn't angry about the low reward, but rather that he needed to be more careful when he went out now.

Despite his anger, Lin Chang'an seemed to have thought of something and began to ponder, stroking his chin.

"It seems that for me, the advantages outweigh the disadvantages."

Everything has its advantages and disadvantages.

For him, the advantage is that the talisman masters, alchemists, and other cultivators in the market will probably hide their identities, except for those who join sects or powerful clans.

This made it easier for him to sell talismans, since everyone was doing it secretly, and he wasn't the only one.

"So it seems I can still make a fortune."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but smile. No other talisman master had his ability to lock onto a state.

This is a perfect opportunity for him to show his skills.

"Indeed, Yun Yao is worthy of being a disciple of a major sect. She can even bring out these spells that are priceless outside."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an looked down at Yun Yao's return gift for her help.

【Wood Spirit Thorn】

"Wood Spirit Thorn, this is actually a high-level spell that is used in conjunction with a magic weapon. Its advantage lies in its extremely low mana consumption and its high degree of secrecy."

The difficulty lies in the cultivator's comprehension of their own wood-attribute cultivation method, their mastery of mana, and the need to equip them with a hidden weapon-type magical artifact to bring it to its full potential.

Upon seeing the introduction in the jade slip, as well as the detailed cultivation process and the use of magical artifacts, Lin Chang'an was secretly amazed. The cultivation world was indeed full of hidden talents.

It seems that Yun Yao had already realized that his understanding of the Everlasting Spring Technique was no less than that of a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator, otherwise she wouldn't have given him such a defensive spell.

"But this introduction isn't an exaggeration, is it?"

Lin Chang'an frowned. This technique was created a hundred years ago by a cultivator from the Li Huo Palace based on the elementary spell "Flicking Spirit Finger". He once used this technique to fight three cultivators of the same level alone, creating a record of one dead, one crippled and one escaped.

As is widely known, the advantages of wood-attribute cultivation techniques lie in prolonging life and gentle magical power. Only those with profound cultivation can exhibit the characteristic of continuous and profound magical power.

"Try it."

Without hesitation, Lin Chang'an raised his hand and a mid-grade golden light talisman appeared, directly protecting the wall.

Under the faint golden light, Lin Chang'an, with a tentative idea in mind, raised his hand and a wooden spike appeared, surrounded by magical power.

A flash of blue light disappeared!
With a clang, the golden light on the wall barely rippled before the wooden splinter turned to dust.

However, Lin Chang'an realized something and gasped in shock, exclaiming:
"It's so fast!"

Moreover, it is extremely stealthy. In a close-range sneak attack, even someone with the cultivation level of the fifth level of Qi Refining would find it difficult to dodge if they are not careful.

"And this attack power too!"

After waiting for the golden talisman on the wall to lose its power to only low-grade level, Lin Chang'an flicked his finger and instantly unleashed five consecutive attacks.

Chu Chu Chu!
On the fifth attempt, it actually broke through the Golden Light Talisman's defense, leaving a shallow crater in the wall.

"The power is unbelievable!"

Lin Chang'an was shocked. The wall was exceptionally hard. These were just ordinary wooden splinters, but if they were placed on a cultivator, they would leave a bloody hole.

If it were paired with a flying needle or similar magical artifact, wouldn't it be even more powerful? "However, this spell also places extremely high demands on the cultivator himself."

Lin Chang'an looked down at his reddened fingers and frowned. In terms of comprehending the cultivation technique and controlling his magic power, he was already no less than an ordinary late-stage Qi Refining cultivator.

But after only a few times, my fingers started to swell and ache.

"Extreme compression and rotation, and instantaneous burst of power—are they all indispensable?"

[Wood Spirit Thorn +48 (Beginner 98/100)]

[Wood Spirit Thorn +80 (Proficiency 78/500)]

In a short time, he had already progressed from beginner to proficient in the Wood Spirit Thorn spell.

"If I were to add magical artifacts like flying needles that specifically counter magical shields, wouldn't that mean I could easily threaten cultivators of the same level?"

Lin Chang'an felt a surge of excitement. More importantly, this spell consumed very little energy, which was enough to allow him to quickly increase his proficiency and reach the Grandmaster level.

"Throwing weapons are a bit pricey, but compared to life, they are absolutely worth it."

……

As the outside world became increasingly dangerous, Lin Chang'an spent his days at home again, focusing on cultivation, drawing talismans, restoring his magical power with spirit stones, and then cultivating this particular spell.

Of course, recently there's been an additional practice: frequently applying a medicated liquid to the fingers to relieve swelling and pain.

After borrowing spirit stones last time, Yun Yao reportedly spent nearly a thousand spirit stones to buy a high-grade defensive magic weapon, and then disappeared without a trace.

Three months later.

Duobao Tower.

On this day, Lin Chang'an disguised himself as a hoarse old man, wearing a bamboo hat, and entered the Duobaolou (treasure shop) opened by Xuanyin Pavilion.

If Li Huo Palace is known for its strong combat power, then Xuan Yin Pavilion is most famous for its diverse range of skills in alchemy, talismans, and weapon crafting, in addition to its female cultivators.

"Although this pavilion is equipped with a spirit-concealing array, which can better help cultivators hide their identities, it is still best to be careful."

After Lin Chang'an walked in, he nodded secretly. In the tense situation of the past two years, Treasure Pavilion and Duobao Pavilion had openly set up this formation in order to improve sales.

It's about letting everyone know that their place is safer now.

"Fellow Daoist, please come in."

As soon as they entered, they were greeted by a fragrant aroma and two scantily clad female cultivators who greeted them with smiles on their faces.

This made Lin Chang'an sigh with emotion, thinking how wonderful it would be to stay here every day if things could be peaceful.

"I want to buy some better quality ritual implements."

However, after thinking about today's important matter, Lin Chang'an did not hesitate and spoke in a hoarse voice. One of the female cultivators' eyes lit up immediately upon hearing this.

"Senior, please come upstairs."

The female cultivator's rapid change of expression left Lin Chang'an speechless; he wondered if she would be the same at night.

If someone could name a magic weapon of decent quality, it would have to be at least a mid-grade magic weapon, and the two female cultivators naturally greeted them with smiles.

However, the two female cultivators only had inferior spiritual roots, and apart from their appearances, they were naturally not qualified to go up to the second floor.

When Lin Chang'an went up to the second floor, a shopkeeper was waiting at the door.

"Fellow Taoist, please."

Spiritual tea and spiritual fruits were served by a beautiful maid, and the slightly plump shopkeeper greeted her with a broad smile and a cupped-fist salute:
"I wonder what quality of magical artifact you are looking for? My Treasure Pavilion has everything. Even the best magical artifacts are auctioned off every year."

"Fellow Daoist, you are too kind. I only wish to find one or two mid-grade magic artifacts for self-defense."

Lin Chang'an's hoarse voice echoed as he feigned an old age.

Under the Concealing Spirit Array, no one's cultivation level can be seen through, except for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

He's only here to buy a mid-grade magic artifact; what Foundation Establishment cultivator would be so hungry?

Upon hearing this, the fat shopkeeper's smile widened even further.

(End of this chapter)