Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Harvesting the Talents of Demonic Beasts

Chapter 293 Breakthrough in Cultivation, Comprehensive Improvement

Even if one's magical power is abundant enough to unleash a [True Core Talisman Treasure], one would likely be instantly killed by this cultivator surnamed Li's strange methods.

After all, talismans are not instantaneous; they require a certain amount of time to activate. Although this activation time decreases as the user's cultivation level or the strength of their magical power increases, it is still still present.

In that short amount of time, the other side could kill the two of them several times over.

Yun Zhi was perfectly clear-headed and her attitude was extremely respectful.

Lin Changheng's gaze swept calmly over the two women who were bowing.

Although Yun Zhi was pale, weak, and her clothes were torn and stained with blood, making her look somewhat disheveled, her eyes, after experiencing despair and shock, became even clearer and more determined. There was a faint, indomitable sword intent hidden and condensed within them. Clearly, this ordeal had cleansed the dust from her sword heart.

Her posture was upright, and even when she was bowing, she did not appear delicate, but rather showed her resilience.

Lin Changheng shifted his gaze slightly, taking a closer look at the silent female cultivator in green robes beside Yun Zhi for the first time.

This woman was slightly shorter than Yunzhi, with a slender and graceful figure. She wore a slightly oversized blue Taoist robe, which made her appear even more delicate and frail.

She lowered her head slightly, her long, jet-black hair simply tied back, a few strands falling loose from the earlier struggle and clinging to her sweaty forehead and cheeks. But her slightly trembling shoulders showed that she had not yet fully recovered from the fear and shock.

Her temperament is not as good as Yunzhi's.

"No need to be polite."

After glancing at the two, Lin Changheng spoke calmly, his voice still devoid of any emotion.

"My intervention was partly due to chance, and partly because I had an agreement with Miss Yun, so there's nothing extra to thank me for."

He spoke calmly, raising the [Minor Sumeru Sword Seal] in his hand, making it clear that this was not a purely chivalrous act, but a transaction, unrelated to any personal favors.

Let's stick to the facts and discuss business as a whole.

“Brother Li may think that way, but Yun Zhi cannot. How can she forget the life-saving grace?”

Yun Zhi shook her head and smiled, not agreeing with Lin Changheng's words.

But Lin Changheng didn't care about her thoughts; as long as the subsequent thank-you gift was satisfactory, he would accept whatever she said.

There's too much scheming and deceit in the cultivation world; self-interest is more direct and real.

"Miss Yun's personality is quite rare in the cultivation world."

Lin Changheng smiled immediately, his tone carrying a hint that was hard to decipher—whether it was praise or something else entirely. He didn't dwell on the topic of "gratitude," but smoothly changed the subject, calmly looking at Yun Zhi and getting straight to the point:

"Since Miss Yun insists, I cannot refuse again, lest I appear pretentious. May I ask what Miss Yun plans to offer as a token of her gratitude?"

He asked directly, without beating around the bush.

This straightforward question startled Yun Zhi, who had just experienced a brush with death and whose mind was not yet fully calm. She hadn't expected the other party to be so direct, skipping even the formalities. However, being a direct descendant of a noble family, she quickly regained her composure and began to make her own calculations.

The opponent's strength is unfathomable; ordinary spirit stones and pills would likely be beneath their notice. Moreover, their precise identification of the [Minor Sumeru Sword Seal] demonstrates their keen insight and knowledge of high-level treasures.

After a moment's thought, she solemnly said, "Brother Li, you are quick to speak, and I admire you. I'm sure ordinary things wouldn't catch your eye. My Yun family is known for its swordsmanship, and while I can't speak for other things, we do have some expertise in sword-related matters."

Yun Zhi paused slightly, observing Lin Changheng's expression, and continued, "If you are interested in swordsmanship, my Yun family's sword pavilion also has several second-tier inheritance rubbings, which we can give away as a token of our gratitude."

Lin Changheng did not express his opinion directly, but began to ponder.

Sword tradition?

If it is a third-order sword dao inheritance, it is quite valuable. It is worth learning a bit of it, or even using it as a main cultivation technique. It can replace the "Jade Void Bright Scripture".

Although Lin Changheng had mastered this technique to perfection, the problem was that it was too dangerous, as it was a technique that attracted and devoured each other.

Huang Jiuyuan, the eldest elder of the Huang family, obtained this technique from a corpse while traveling in the Jin Kingdom. At first, things were fine because the situation was stable and the border between the two countries was clear. High-level cultivators from the Jin Kingdom did not dare to cross the border openly. At that time, Lin Changheng was naturally safe.

However, now that the two countries have started a war of cultivators, and the Song Kingdom is attacking the Jin Kingdom's homeland, leaving the country vulnerable, the Jin Kingdom's cultivators may very well do the opposite and infiltrate Song territory instead.

At that time, the situation will truly descend into chaos. At that time, is it possible that a high-level Jin Kingdom cultivator who practices the Jade Void Bright Scripture might infiltrate?

He sees Lin Changheng as food? Or as nourishment for advancing his cultivation technique?

This is also what Lin Changheng values ​​and is worried about. After all, the [Concealing Breath Demon Technique] is effective against pseudo-core cultivators. What if it encounters a true core cultivator with a higher cultivation level?
Therefore, the matter of changing the cultivation method was also placed on Lin Changheng's desk and became the first problem that needed to be solved.

"Is there a third-order method?"

Lin Changheng suddenly asked.

It was obvious that Yun Zhi's face showed a hint of difficulty. Lin Changheng also basically knew that no matter how high Yun Zhi's status was in the Yun family, the third-order sword dao inheritance was not something she could decide on her own.

However, Lin Changheng did not remove the question proactively. Instead, he waited until Yun Zhi had gone through a period of agonizing internal struggle before speaking, "Brother Li, I'm afraid this won't work..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Changheng's expression remained unchanged. He then reached out and took out a jade slip, quickly inscribed it with his divine sense, and tossed it directly into Yun Zhi's hand. "Miss Yun, as mentioned before, spiritual materials are also acceptable. It just so happens that I am lacking some refining materials. I wonder if your noble family could help provide some?"

"Please see the details here."

It is said that one can do something once, but not twice or three times. Lin Changheng took advantage of this mentality to increase the success rate of his subsequent demands.

In the previous life, this was also known as the "roof-removal effect." First, make a high request, such as "removing the roof." If the other party refuses or finds it difficult, then make a relatively small request, such as "opening a window instead." The likelihood of the other party agreeing will greatly increase.

Among the items on Lin Changheng's list, the least valuable, or rather, the easiest for the Yun family to obtain, was...

【Centennial Warm Jade】!
This is precisely the key spiritual material that Lin Changheng is still lacking in refining the embryo of his natal magic weapon!
This item is quite rare, and it has a wide range of uses and stable demand. It is often intercepted by major forces as soon as it appears and stored in their warehouses, never entering the market. Ordinary independent cultivators would have no chance of obtaining a piece, even if they spent a lot of time and energy.

Now is the perfect time to make this request to "open the window"!

Yun Zhi immediately looked down at the jade slip in her hand, and her expression quickly changed. Her heart sank. Clearly, this cultivator surnamed Li was asking for an exorbitant price, making her feel like she had just escaped one danger only to fall into another.

Having just escaped danger and survived a near-death experience, she deeply realized the benefits of living and had an extremely strong desire to live. Naturally, she would no longer argue or disobey the other party and was willing to die.

After all, this was a promise he had made to save his life!

Just when she was unsure of what to choose, the material at the very end of the list caught her eye!
"A century of warm jade?!"

The appearance of this object was like a ray of light entering her heart, dispelling a gloomy atmosphere.

The value has clearly dropped a notch, as if it were an extra addition.

But she had to hold on tight, and without almost any hesitation, she immediately agreed, her tone even carrying a hint of glee at having gotten a good deal:

"What I say always counts! Within my authority, I happen to have access to a piece of [Centennial Warm Jade], which I will use as a token of my gratitude to Brother Li for saving my life!"

Then, as if afraid that Lin Changheng would change his mind, she quickly settled the matter, saying, "Leave this matter to Yunzhi. When we return to the family, we will definitely present her with the best quality warm jade!"

Seeing this, Lin Changheng smiled inwardly, his goal achieved.

The "demolition effect" worked.

He not only obtained the much-needed [Centennial Warm Jade], completing the final piece of the magic weapon's embryonic form, but also made Yun Zhi feel like she had gotten a bargain, picking up a bargain from a group of valuable items, making her particularly proactive!

This deal was perfect.

The rest was simple. Under Lin Changheng's instruction and witness, Yun Zhi directly made a vow, promising what she had said.

Lin Changheng nodded in satisfaction and casually tossed the [Small Sumeru Sword Seal] back to Yun Zhi.

Since the oath has already been sworn, there's no need to worry that this core direct descendant of the Yun family might tarnish his path for a piece of spiritual material; it's simply not worth it.

Keeping the [Small Sumeru Sword Seal] is useless to him; on the contrary, it might attract the hostility of the Yun family, which would be bad.

Things should be stopped when they're at their most intense!

……

"This is not a place to stay for long. You two should take care of the aftermath as soon as possible and recover your magical power and injuries. I have other matters to attend to, so I will not stay any longer."

Immediately, Lin Changheng's gaze swept over the chaotic battlefield and the still faint smell of blood, and he changed the subject, giving a reminder.

After saying that, he nodded slightly to Yun Zhi as a greeting, then glanced at the green-robed female cultivator who had not been standing quietly to the side. Then, with a flicker, he disappeared into the shadows of the forest as he had come, leaving the two women staring at each other in bewilderment.

He left decisively and without hesitation, as if it were truly just a transaction where both parties got what they wanted.

Yun Zhi stared in the direction he had disappeared, lost in thought for a moment, before sighing softly and saying to the female cultivator in the green robe, "This Brother Li is truly... mysterious and unpredictable. Well then, let's do as he says and leave this place as soon as possible."

She knew in her heart that the other party did not want to have too much involvement with them, and this "favor" could probably only be repaid according to the "transaction" agreed upon by the other party. She couldn't help but feel more curious and want to investigate that "Brother Li".

……

Soon, a figure in a green robe appeared on Jade Belt Lake.

He paused briefly in the air, seemingly to observe the situation, before rushing directly into Qiyue Island.

"Brother Lin!"

As Yan Mingyi was watching the three spirit beasts frolicking, she suddenly noticed a different sound. She immediately scanned the sound with her divine sense, and the next moment, a deep joy appeared on her beautiful face.

"I'm back……"

Before Lin Changheng could even stand still, a soft, fragrant body suddenly rushed into his arms. A pair of jade-like arms tightly encircled his waist, and the other person's deep longing and joy were clearly visible.

He could sense that the woman's feelings for him were genuine, an instantaneous outburst, and not something that could be faked.

Feeling a pang of emotion, Lin Changheng wrapped his arms tightly around Yan Mingyi, savoring the tranquility and tenderness of the moment, after all, they hadn't seen each other for over two years.

In the following days, Lin Changheng spent the night with Yan Mingyi, recounting his experiences. He also inspected the herb garden in the back mountain and spent time with the three spirit beasts.

He also made four delightful discoveries.

Firstly, the key medicinal materials for the [Youth Preservation Pill] were ready to be used in medicine. They were immediately picked, placed in a jade box and sealed, to be opened at a later date.

After the roots were harvested, they were naturally revived using the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power] and then planted again.

Secondly, he successfully harvested the two main ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills, the [Heavenly Crystal Lotus Root] and the [Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma]. He only needs to wait for a cultivator with the [Seven-Star Spirit Moon Grass] to come to his door before he can start the furnace.

This means he will have at least one [Premium Foundation Establishment Pill] and one [Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill]. If he performs well, he will be able to obtain two [Premium Foundation Establishment Pills].

The more strategic resources like these, the better. Whether they are converted into spirit stones, used for barter, or given to high-level cultivators as a favor, they are all good options.

Thirdly, he discovered that the Black Armored Earth Turtle's cultivation was almost at its peak, a sign that it was about to break through to the mid-stage of the second tier.

"So fast?"

Lin Changheng discovered this while teasing Xiao Hei to build a bond.

If Lin Changheng remembers correctly, it has only been a little over twenty years since Xiao Hei broke through to the second tier.

Logically speaking, turtle-type demon beasts have long lifespans, but their strength progresses quite slowly, basically relying on time to grind it down. After reaching the second tier, it is normal for them to advance a minor tier every thirty or forty years.

For Lin Changheng, the faster Xiao Hei's strength progresses, the better, and there's no reason for him not to be happy.

This breakthrough, however, can only be achieved by itself, so Lin Changheng warned it to lay a solid foundation before attempting it, in order to minimize the risk of failure.

And the fourth—

[Green-haired Tiger] Xiao Qing's strength has also broken through rapidly, and he has now reached the late stage of the first tier.

In terms of feeding methods, there is no difference from the original black-shelled tortoise, but the growth rate is just as fast.

Lin Changheng speculated that although the Green-haired Tiger also has the Xuanling bloodline, it is more outstanding than Xiao Hei among bloodlines of the same level, or perhaps the wind-type alien bloodline is playing a role.

Its bloodline talent might even be more outstanding than that of the [Blue-haired Tiger] seen outside the waterfall. If it maintains this speed, there is still hope of breaking through to the third tier.

……

After visiting his two neighbors, Lin Changheng began his seclusion in peace.

He realized that the war between the Song and Jin dynasties could bring about an unknown future! He needed to further enhance his cultivation!

Currently, no late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator is a match for Lin Changheng. His formidable stats make him look like a pseudo-Core Formation cultivator. He could walk around Song territory with an air of superiority, if not with impunity!

But this is under normal circumstances, under normal circumstances without any unexpected events!
In a chaotic environment, fake and real pills might all be out and about, and Lin Changheng's cultivation level is really not enough to compete with them.

Therefore, this time, he decided that he would not leave the island until his cultivation level broke through to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment.

After that, they would plan to break through in body refinement and develop the embryo of a magic weapon, further enhancing their strength and giving them more confidence in the face of chaos.

……

Two years passed quickly.

For ordinary people, such years might mean a child growing up and a change in livelihood, but for Lin Changheng, who was in seclusion cultivating and immersing himself in enlightenment, it was just the time it took to circulate his magical power through a few major cycles, a mere blink of an eye.

At this moment, deep within a secret chamber on Qiyue Island.

The pure spiritual energy that had been surging in the air had long since calmed down, replaced by an extremely restrained silence.

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in the center of the spirit-gathering formation, his body as still as a withered tree or a rock, his aura concealed, as if he had merged with the surrounding environment, his heartbeat and breathing barely perceptible.

However, inside his dantian and dantian, a completely different scene unfolded!
The [Dark Flame] seed, slowly rotating and exuding a profound aura, occupied the center of the dantian, constantly emitting dark golden flames, like a king in this place.

The magical power cultivated through the circulation of Qi surged and flowed through the broad and resilient meridians, emitting a deep roar like the surging tide of a great river before converging into the dantian. It was all drawn by the flames and swirled around the fire, making a constant "sizzling" sound, as if it were being refined a second time. Finally, like viscous magma, it flowed into the "lake of magical power".

It is so full and plump that it looks like it's about to overflow.

Because there are no significant bottlenecks between the smaller stages of the Foundation Establishment period, Lin Changheng directly guided the breakthrough.

"Right now!"

Lin Changheng, who was sitting in meditation, suddenly opened his tightly closed eyes, and two clusters of dark golden flames seemed to ignite deep within them!

He formed a mysterious hand seal in front of him!

boom--!
Like a dam breaking, or like a volcanic eruption!

The pure magical power that had been accumulating for a long time and was already saturated seemed to find an outlet at this moment, flowing over like a flood that had burst its banks!

Inside the secret chamber, an invisible storm of spiritual energy suddenly surged up, centered on Lin Changheng! If it weren't for the reinforced array that had been set up in advance to isolate it, the entire Qiyue Island would probably have felt this intense fluctuation of magical power.

Beneath his skin, faint streams of light pulsed rapidly—the outward manifestation of his magical power operating at its limit. Veins bulged slightly on his forehead, but his eyes remained clear and resolute as he focused his mind and guided this raging force.

"Click..."

A faint cracking sound, as if it came from the depths of the soul, rang out.

In an instant, the world seemed vast and boundless!

A much wider space for mana circulation was opened up, and the originally surging torrent of mana flowed more smoothly and powerfully as if it had found a wider river channel! The dantian and qi sea expanded again, and the total amount of mana that could be contained increased significantly!

A more powerful aura than before slowly emanated from Lin Changheng's body. Although he quickly suppressed it, the fleeting spiritual pressure had already reached the sixth level of the Foundation Establishment stage!

Breakthrough!
Lin Changheng slowly exhaled a breath of scorching hot air. The breath struck the stone wall of the secret chamber like an arrow, making a soft "hissing" sound.

He felt the surging magical power within him, nearly 30% stronger than before, and a satisfied smile involuntarily appeared on his lips.

With the sixth layer of foundation building completed, we are one step closer to the later stage of foundation building.

More importantly, his increased cultivation level means he can use powerful techniques such as the [Dark Blaze Profound Flame] more freely, and he has a better grasp of refining magical artifact embryos.

He did not immediately emerge from seclusion, but instead closed his eyes again to stabilize the realm he had just broken through to.

This time, Lin Changheng was able to sense the power of a "superior spiritual root"!
Generally speaking, it is becoming increasingly difficult to advance in cultivation and cross realms, but the time he spent was even shorter than that from the fourth to the fifth level of Foundation Establishment!
This indicates that the conversion of spiritual energy is more efficient.

"I am now 109 years old. I wonder if I will be able to form a core before I turn 160?"

Lin Changheng is sixty years old, having reached the age of sixty and established his foundation. In another hundred years, he will be one hundred and sixty!

A hundred years is enough time to form the core; I don't know if that's enough, as nearly half of it has already passed.

Lin Changheng originally did not have this aspiration, but the advancement of his spiritual root to the superior grade gave him the motivation.

Perhaps, within twenty or thirty years, I can even upgrade my spiritual root to an earth spiritual root, at which point I will have a greater chance of forming my core on schedule!

……

Moreover, the quality of his magical power is stronger than that of other cultivators of the same level.

The key lies in the effect of the [Dark Radiance Profound Flame]. Located in the center of the dantian, it attracts and gathers magical power. Anyone who enters it will be refined and tempered by the flame. Although it is only a preliminary refinement, it is still exceptionally pure and dense, with little sense of impurity or superficiality.

It is naturally more powerful when used to control magic and demonic arts.

This is also the source of his confidence in fighting against opponents of the same or even different levels.

……

Of course, Lin Changheng did not go into seclusion during these three years.

They also do other things.

For example, he took some time to finish refining the [Youth Preservation Pill]. Because his alchemy skills had improved again, he obtained two [Premium Youth Preservation Pills] and one [Genuine Youth Preservation Pill].

He took one of the premium anti-aging pills on the spot without much hesitation.

A vibrant life force emanated from within, like plants and trees in springtime. But more importantly, it stirred the true meaning of the [Glorious Life Divine Power] within him, and it began to operate on its own.

He absorbed the "energy of time" brought by the [Premium Youth-Preserving Pill], which cleansed his entire body.

At this moment, Lin Changheng's lifespan, which had not changed for a long time, began to slowly increase again.

One year, three years, five years!
[Rongsheng's Supernatural Power] The true meaning can no longer be obtained, and lifespan will eventually come to an end.

"As expected, the [Premium Youth-Preserving Pill] can make up for the remaining deficiencies of the [Genuine Youth-Preserving Pill]. It's as if, after being absorbed and transformed by the true meaning of the [Life-Giving Divine Power], it adds a total of fifteen years to one's lifespan!"

"At this moment, my lifespan has reached three hundred and fifty-seven years!"

The remaining [Premium Youth-Preserving Pill] and [Genuine Youth-Preserving Pill] will be given to Bai Hengwan, as he has benefited greatly from her while giving little in return, and this small token will help maintain their relationship.

The genuine Youth-Preserving Pill was held in the hand first.

As for women like Tantai Feiyue and Yan Mingyi, Lin Changheng had considered that it was not appropriate to give them away for the time being. After all, it was not a matter of scarcity but of inequality. With the [Premium Beauty Pill] he provided, they could maintain their appearance and make do.

……

At the same time, Lin Changheng's mastery of formations finally achieved a breakthrough!

He has advanced to the second-tier lower grade realm!
As the saying goes, if you don't have talent, you can hone it over time.

Lin Changheng's enhanced ability to "multitask" was mostly used for this purpose, in order to study formations.

But the most crucial breakthrough lies in the fact that Lin Changheng invited the eccentric array master Wang, who was in charge of setting up the array at Yujing Mountain, to Qiyue Island to set up a defensive array for him.

The formation master, surnamed Wang, had white hair and beard, was unkempt, had a solitary personality, and spoke harshly, but his obsession with and mastery of formations were truly profound. However, when dealing with Lin Changheng, he toned down his harshness and showed a rare warmth.

In addition to the agreed-upon spirit stones, Lin Changheng also gifted a generous present, which included some pills and a second-tier low-grade alchemy inheritance with his own annotations.

Upon receiving the gift, Lin Changheng gestured for it to be opened. After scanning it, Wang Zhenshi's face lit up with enthusiasm.

Clearly, their hearts were struck precisely!

Therefore, when Lin Changheng made his request to observe the entire formation process, Wang, the formation master, opened his mouth, instinctively wanting to refuse, because this was an unwritten rule among formation masters.

Then he glanced at the still-warm, generous gift in his hand and immediately felt indebted to the person who gave him the gift. After some deliberation, he gritted his teeth and agreed.

Lin Changheng followed the entire process of setting up the formation, carefully observing and using the profound mystery of [Insight into Demonic Arts] to clearly "see" and remember every detail of Wang's formation, every rune outline, and every connection of spiritual energy nodes.

The array set up by Array Master Wang was a second-tier high-grade composite array called the "Nine-Turn Vortex Suppressing Yuan Array".

This formation not only boasts astonishing defensive capabilities, able to withstand prolonged attacks from pseudo-core cultivators, but also possesses the ingenious functions of concealment, spirit gathering, and deflecting some attacks.

Lin Changheng witnessed firsthand how Master Wang drew upon the earth's energy and the power of water, how he buried hundreds of array bases along specific trajectories, and how he used his own pure magical power as a guide to outline intricate array patterns that subtly conformed to some ultimate principle of heaven and earth.

In particular, Wang Zhenshi's effortless and simplified approach to handling the transitions between several key array nodes, as well as his ingenious concept of perfectly integrating array patterns of different attributes, broadened Lin Changheng's horizons. Many things that were previously obscure and difficult to understand suddenly became clear!
During that period, he observed and learned during the day, and at night he repeatedly deduced, imitated, and verified in his secluded room. Although he could not completely replicate the power of the second-tier high-grade formation, he gradually digested and absorbed the formation principles and techniques contained within it.

It was this rare opportunity for observation and practice that allowed him to break through the last layer of paper, enabling him to fully integrate his long-accumulated knowledge of array formations and naturally step into the threshold of becoming a second-tier array master!

"No wonder the art of formations places great emphasis on lineage; this is the core of it!"

Even now, Lin Changheng is quite moved when he thinks about it. Pathfinding without a guide is incredibly difficult, even doubly so…

Then, he made a preliminary plan for the future development of his array formation skills, which was to find a master.

At the very least, it can provide guidance when breakthroughs are at a critical juncture.

Lin Changheng wasn't worried about those array masters being rigid, outdated, or clinging to their old ways; it was just that the gifts they offered weren't substantial enough or precisely targeted their needs.

……

As for other key matters, two more are worth mentioning.

Firstly, Lin Changheng had already spread the word that he was going to start refining the Foundation Establishment Pill again, only lacking the main ingredient, the Seven Star Spirit Moon Grass.

Perhaps because this medicine is hard to find, no one has brought it to our door so far.

Lin Changheng had no choice but to wait and see.

Secondly, Lin Changheng received a letter from Bai Hengwan.

The Wan Jianyun family has already sent someone to deliver the Century-Old Warm Jade. Soon, she will send a trusted and capable subordinate to deliver this spiritual material to Jade Belt Lake.

Currently, only Bai Hengwan knows Lin Changheng's identity as "Li Feiyu".

He couldn't wait outside for the Yun family to arrive, so he asked Bai Hengwan to help him receive the "thank you gift" and then pass it on to someone more convenient.

Bai Hengwan naturally wouldn't refuse, and even more carefully covered up for Lin Changheng to prevent his true identity from being exposed.

It is imperative to prevent others from associating Lin Changheng and Li Feiyu together.

……

After Lin Changheng emerged from seclusion, he began to live the life of an island owner, enjoying a rather leisurely existence.

Aside from necessary cultivation and alchemy, one could tend to flowers and plants on the island, tease spirit beasts, play chess with Yan Mingyi, or even cast a fishing line and sit by the blue waves for half a day, quietly watching the clouds drift by.

Why is this state of leisure so precious?
The outside world was in complete chaos, a bloodbath, a far cry from the tranquility of his Moonlit Island.

On the battlefields of the Jin Kingdom, the Song allied forces were no longer engaged in small-scale infiltrations and raids as they had in the early stages. They had made every effort to fortify and construct the several important border towns, resource markets, and territories of cultivation families that they had initially captured, turning them into solid bridgeheads that could be attacked or defended at will.

Based on this, they continuously dispatched large armies of cultivators from within the Song Kingdom, advancing relentlessly into the heart of the Jin Kingdom like locusts, carrying out brutal invasion, plunder, and cleansing.

The two countries, which have a long history of enmity, especially the Song Dynasty, which was previously a bullied weaker party, now have the opportunity to use their cultivators' methods to be extremely cruel!
Every so often, small Jin forces were uprooted and new resource points were marked with the Song Dynasty's mark, but the resistance and restoration efforts of Jin cultivators were also particularly fierce!
Two years may seem like a long time, but for a war between armies of cultivators that often lasts for years or even decades, it is only the beginning of a strategic stalemate and attrition phase.

After initial chaos and defeat, the Jin Kingdom cultivators finally reached a preliminary consensus and decided to join forces to resist the enemy!
Relying on the organization that they had worked so hard to establish, the Jin Kingdom cultivators stabilized their position and began to put up a tenacious resistance, relying on the familiar terrain and the towns, markets, and spiritual veins that they had not yet lost.

A repeated and bloody tug-of-war ensued.

The battle reports from the border were filled with news of strongholds changing hands, teams being ambushed, and Foundation Establishment cultivators or even Pseudo Core cultivators falling to their deaths.

The meat grinder of war has begun, feeding countless low-level cultivators like weeds. Even high-level cultivators appear fragile and vulnerable under the aftershocks of large-scale battle formations and clashes between Core Formation cultivators...

(End of this chapter)