Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 77 Guest Elder of Tianxuan City

Inside the cave.

Lin Chang'an replied to each and every visiting card sent by various families and sects.

This is basic etiquette; he is merely a newly established Foundation Establishment cultivator and dares not be presumptuous.

"The power of Master Lu of the Xuan Turtle Sect in Tianxuan City may seem neutral, but his every word and action will affect the entire Yue Kingdom. If the three major sects really want to break off relations, they will definitely not let this power remain neutral."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an held the visiting card sent by the steward of Tianxuan City and fell into deep thought.

The positions of "official" and "guest minister" may seem similar, but they are actually completely different.

Guest advisors are primarily chosen from among cultivators with exceptional skills. They do not participate in internal affairs and are only responsible for providing talismans or pills on a regular basis.

Offering sacrifices is different; it relies on power and resources, and often requires one to be responsible for overseeing a region.

"Whether you are a guest elder or a retainer, Tianxuan City will provide you with a foundation-building cultivation technique and corresponding cultivation resources. As a second-tier talisman master, I can also obtain corresponding talisman inheritance."

Similarly, what he needs to give in return is to regularly provide Tianxuan City with a certain amount of talismans over the next few decades.

"Guests have more freedom and it won't affect my usual cultivation."

After making his decision, Lin Chang'an put the invitation from Tianxuan City into his storage bag and replied to the other invitations one by one.

Even brothels have distinctions between prostitutes and courtesans.

If the Yue Kingdom really falls into chaos, he's just a guest minister, a performer, not someone who risks his life.

Without any hesitation, Lin Chang'an took the invitation from Tianxuan City and left.

He's just a rogue cultivator; he can't take himself too seriously by waiting for the right person. If he doesn't make a decision soon, he'll offend people.

……

Despite the howling wind and snow, half of the mountain range in Tianxuan City remains perpetually spring-like.

In addition, due to the profound nature of the formation, the mountainside and the upward slopes were completely unaffected by this celestial phenomenon.

Lin Chang'an was amazed. The various arts of cultivation were indeed profound. He would definitely not miss the opportunity to learn about formations in the future.

He had already experienced the power of such external items that allowed him to fight beyond his level when he hunted monsters before.

Arriving at the mountainside of Tianxuan City, outside a grand hall, the guards were all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators.

"I am Lin Chang'an, a rogue cultivator, here to pay my respects."

After the invitation was presented, the guard dared not be negligent in the slightest, after all, the person in front of him was a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Please wait a moment, senior. I will go and inform them immediately."

Standing on the mountainside, overlooking the entire Tianxuan City, Lin Chang'an was filled with emotion.

Although they were all cultivators, the area on the mountain and the area below it were clearly distinct, like two completely different worlds.

"Congratulations to Fellow Daoist Lin on attaining enlightenment and establishing your foundation."

Just then, a clear and familiar voice rang out, and Lin Chang'an was surprised to find that it was this person who had come to see him.

"It turns out to be Fellow Daoist Miaoyin here."

The person who came was Su Miaoyin, whom I had met once before at Yunyao Cave, and she was also a disciple of True Person Lu of Xuan Turtle in Tianxuan City.

Su Miaoyin, dressed in a gray Taoist nun's robe, held a whisk in her hand with a cool expression and slowly bowed.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please!"

When Lin Chang'an returned the visiting card, his purpose was clear. Su Miaoyin also behaved politely and personally led Lin Chang'an into the hall.

"This place is where Tianxuan City handles its administrative affairs. Although we are all independent cultivators, the governance of a city still needs someone to oversee it..."

Along the way, Su Miaoyin slowly introduced the industries that Tianxuan City was responsible for, and Lin Chang'an nodded frequently in cooperation.

We came to a pavilion, which was located right on the mountainside. From there, we could see the entire Tianxuan City covered in silver frost.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, please have some tea."

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Su."

Taking a sip of spiritual tea, Lin Chang'an was filled with emotion. He never imagined that he could now enjoy tea and discuss the Dao with Foundation Establishment cultivators, and even address each other as fellow Daoists.

"To be honest, Fellow Daoist Su, I come from a lower-level rogue cultivator background. My only expertise lies in talismans; I am not skilled in combat or killing..."

Lin Chang'an looked melancholy, as if recalling the hardships and difficulties he had overcome along the way.

Su Miaoyin, dressed as a Taoist nun, felt a deep empathy for this scene. Although she now held a very high position, she had started as a rogue cultivator.

"If Fellow Daoist Lin takes on the role of a guest elder, he may choose one Foundation Establishment cultivation technique and inherit three second-tier talisman techniques..."

As a guest retainer, one can choose three paths for the inheritance of second-tier talismans, while offering five paths is permitted.

There will naturally be differences in the cultivation methods, and some advanced cultivation methods are allowed to be offered and selected.

As for cultivation resources in cave dwellings, it's about the same; Tianxuan City provides one cultivation cave dwelling free of charge.

Thirty years!

After hearing the contract timeline, Lin Chang'an pondered silently. He had asked Yun Yao about it before, and it was pretty much the same.

"Fellow Daoist only needs to provide the corresponding talismans each year."

With Su Miaoyin's ethereal voice echoing, the brief conversation, lasting only the time it takes to drink a cup of tea, felt like a gentle spring breeze.

But those eyes were naturally alluring, completely contradicting her own image.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Su." In this matter, everyone is on the same terms, unless you have special abilities.

Lin Chang'an didn't haggle and readily signed a thirty-year spiritual contract.

By becoming a guest elder of Tianxuan City, one gains access to three second-tier talisman inheritances, cultivation techniques, and a cave dwelling, as well as the protection of Tianxuan City.

He will need to provide a certain number of talismans every year for the next thirty years.

This is like taking out a loan. He is a cultivator who has just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage and enjoys a lifespan of over two hundred years, but he has taken out a loan for another thirty years.

Moreover, after thirty years, this cave dwelling will no longer be free, unless he renews the contract.

"Fellow Daoist Lin."

"Fellow Daoist Su."

The two picked up their teacups, exchanged a smile, and Lin Chang'an sipped his spiritual tea, sighing inwardly.

Resources are scarce in the cultivation world, and Foundation Establishment cultivators face the same predicament.

Without relying on a powerful force, finding a suitable cave with abundant spiritual energy is extremely difficult.

There are also various skills passed down through generations, and resources that are only passed down within the organization, which are inaccessible to independent cultivators.

"The path to immortality has only just begun."

Lin Chang'an shook his head. No matter what, at least for the next thirty years, as long as he doesn't go out easily, Huang Shaohai won't try anything with him.

As for what will happen in thirty years?

Given the current situation in Vietnam, Huang Shaohai might end up on the front lines someday.

He also hoped that both father and son would die on the front lines.

……

"What? He didn't come to Li Huo Palace with such treatment, but actually went to Tian Xuan City!"

Inside the Immortal City, at the Li Huo Palace's headquarters, Huang Shaohai was filled with rage as he looked at the reply that had been sent back, which made him extremely angry.

"Shaohai!"

Just then, his father, Huang Yuntian, walked in with a grave expression and said in a deep voice:
"These are turbulent times, so calm down. If you hadn't insisted on cultivating that Yin-Yang replenishment method, you wouldn't have failed with both Foundation Establishment Pills."

At this point, Huang Yuntian looked even more disappointed.

My son is good in every way, except that he is too unruly.

"Father, I am not reconciled! If I had used my Foundation Establishment Pill to exchange for that high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill from that bitch Yun Yao that day, why would I have resorted to that secret technique!"

At this moment, Huang Shaohai gritted his teeth, his face full of resentment.

If it weren't for that bitch Yun Yao, he wouldn't have failed at all.

And the other party turned out to be just a rogue cultivator!
This further fueled his anger.

"Shut up!"

Huang Yuntian coldly shouted, "Now prepare yourselves, stabilize your cultivation, and then head to the front lines."

"what!"

Huang Shaohai was shocked, but after seeing his father's expression, he fell silent, feeling even more resentful towards the rogue cultivator who had stolen his high-quality Foundation Establishment Pill.

Sects have always been ruthless, with survival of the fittest.

Those cultivators with good aptitude and great potential will naturally be assigned to the rear and given more time to cultivate.

Even Huang Shaohai could only feel resentful about this, but he dared not refute it.

Looking at his silent son, Huang Yuntian's unpleasant expression gradually softened, and he finally let out a helpless sigh.

"Don't worry, you are of the Huang family bloodline. I have already arranged everything for you. Be careful on the front line. After you have made meritorious contributions in three to five years, we will be able to transfer you back."

After all, with so many people in the sect watching, the patriarch needs the Huang family to set an example.

He was gilded on the front lines, while simultaneously showing his sect members that the Huang family remained loyal to the sect.

“I understand, Father.”

Upon hearing this, Huang Shaohai's expression softened slightly.

Although his son had a bad temper, he was still decisive in important matters, which made Huang Yuntian nod in approval.

A person can be bad, but they cannot lack self-awareness.

"Before you leave, I've prepared a spirit pet for you. We'll go to the Zhou family to get it together."

"Zhou family?"

Before Huang Shaohai could react, he saw his father, Huang Yuntian, nod calmly.

“Recently, I learned that the Zhou family seems to have discovered some kind of rare monster cub in the Cloud Mist Mountains. It must be extraordinary to warrant the involvement of Foundation Establishment cultivators. We can take it along on our way.”

Good grief, this guy is treating others like his personal storage bag.

But after the father and son looked at each other, they both smiled.

The cultivation world has always been a dog-eat-dog world.

(End of this chapter)