Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

"Next step: purchase a Shapeshifter."

After putting away his belongings, Wang Xuan went to Yu Qin Xuan.

According to the original estimate, it would take at least another ten days and a half months before he could find a reason such as "the alchemy furnace exploded, damaging his meridians" to go into seclusion for half a year.

Therefore, Wang Xuan was not in a hurry to buy things like talismans.

Unexpectedly, the Han family brought it up on their own initiative, which saved him a lot of time.

"A mid-grade second-tier shape-changing talisman."

Knowing the way well, Wang Xuan entered Yu Qin Xuan again, but did not encounter the masked girl from before.

In fact, it seems that the other party completed some task three years ago and has already left Baihefang City.

Without any unexpected incidents, after paying a sum of spirit stones, Wang Xuan successfully obtained the talisman containing spiritual light.

Generally speaking, considering that the time required to activate a talisman is linked to spiritual awareness and magical power, although low-level cultivators can use high-level talismans, they rarely manage to defeat or even kill cultivators of a higher realm using them.

At most, it can be used to buy time or save one's life, or to have other high-level cultivators restrain one.

Only a true talisman cultivator who possesses their own natal talisman can possibly fight beyond their level and defeat a stronger opponent by relying on talismans.

However, Wang Xuan was not engaged in a magical duel, so he did not need to consider the situation during the battle.

So he put away the shape-changing talisman and returned to the inn.

"Hmm... the last piece of the puzzle is ready."

"We'll set off tomorrow and strive for success on the first try."

Calm and composed, without being impatient or agitated.

Inside the guest room, Wang Xuan sat in silent meditation.

This is just a small matter. When he prepares to form his Golden Core in the future, he will at least form a Golden Core of the upper three grades.

At that time, the weather can easily affect areas dozens of miles away, and there may even be unusual phenomena.

The attention it might attract is far greater than the commotion caused by a second-tier monster advancing to the next level.

……

The next day.

The core area of ​​Fangshi.

Baihefangshi is named after the river and is located next to the Bailan River.

Its spiritual veins naturally benefit the wood from water, with the central node intersecting with the river's water veins.

Therefore, the second-tier cave dwellings that are rented out in the market are not elsewhere, but are hidden beneath the rolling river, in a riverbed cave shrouded by an array.

"Fellow Daoist, please wait. The second-tier cave dwelling is located ahead."

"Please show your token if you wish to enter."

There were few people on the river.

Upon seeing the newcomer, a late-stage Qi Refining cultivator flew forward and stood in front of a muscular, dark-skinned middle-aged man.

At the same moment, in the pavilion in the middle of the river, a Foundation Establishment cultivator glanced at the outside world but did not make any unnecessary moves.

As a guest elder dispatched by the Lu family, he was only responsible for receiving cultivators of the same realm and newly promoted Foundation Establishment cultivators.

The rest of the Qi Refining and First-Order Body Cultivators who came here were not within his scope of concern; others would handle them on his behalf.

"Hmph, I know."

"The token is here, so get out of the way immediately. Time is of the essence for me."

On the banks of the Bailan River, a middle-aged cultivator snorted coldly, casually took out a talisman from his storage bag, and activated it with a wisp of his blood and qi.

Despite being only a mid-stage Body Cultivator, the middle-aged man had quite a temper and didn't take the patrolling cultivators, who were at the late-stage Qi Refining stage, seriously at all.

"Did you see that clearly? Any further questions?"

"Phew... The token is correct. Please make yourself at home, fellow Daoist."

Taking a deep breath, the gray-robed cultivator's expression wasn't good, but he still didn't lash out.

He didn't take a mere mid-stage body cultivator seriously.

However, the fact that someone with only average cultivation level could rent a second-tier cave dwelling proves that either they come from an extraordinary family or they have made a fortune.

The latter would much rather be cautious and unnoticed, so how could he be so arrogant?

So despite his dissatisfaction, the gray-robed monk obediently made way, only daring to curse these guys who only knew how to rely on their powerful backers.

"Ha, too much trouble."

With a cold laugh, the middle-aged man arrogantly activated the token.

Under the influence of the nearby formation, a passage, just wide enough for one person to pass through, immediately appeared on the river surface, leading directly to the underwater cave.

As I strode in, the water curtain closed behind me.

The Bailan River then returned to calm, with only the sound of the flowing water.

……

We continued downwards, following the direction indicated by the token.

About half an hour later, in front of a huge stone gate located at the bottom of the river.

The middle-aged man stopped and stood still, then used his qi and blood to activate the token again, and the stone gate opened in response.

In an instant, as the door swung open, a surge of pure spiritual energy rushed out, far surpassing the spiritual energy of the White Cloud Mountain Lower Courtyard and the Pill Pavilion.

Step inside and close the stone door behind you again.

Taking a deep breath and maintaining his disguise, Wang Xuan surveyed his surroundings.

The cave is not large, only about ten feet in diameter.

But in the center, within a spiritual eye carved out later, pure and abundant spiritual energy was constantly emanating and releasing, causing Wang Xuan's magical power to feel a subtle yearning.

This is a second-tier cave dwelling specifically designed for secluded cultivation to break through realms and for high-level cultivators to practice.

Compared to that, the quasi-second-tier spiritual veins of the Han Clan's Pill Pavilion are far inferior.

"Not bad, the spirit stones weren't wasted."

Silently observing, Wang Xuan recalled the common knowledge booklet that the Nanhua Sect had distributed to its disciples.

According to ancient records, spiritual veins are classified by both grade and scale.

"Those that are both second-tier spiritual veins, but are able to establish lower courtyards, markets, and families, are all large spiritual veins that can supply a large number of cultivators for cultivation and breathing exercises."

"Some of the spiritual peaks and cave dwellings rented to independent cultivators are basically small spiritual veins, which can only supply a small number of cultivators."

Comparing the records in the book, Wang Xuan knew that the core of large or even super-large spiritual veins often had a purity higher than the level of the spiritual vein itself, while small and medium-sized spiritual veins did not.

In places like Han's Pill Pavilion, the inns and courtyards in the market are basically supplied with spiritual energy according to the standards of small spiritual veins, and the amount of spiritual energy is limited.

However, such core cave dwellings are often connected to the main body of the spiritual vein, do not restrict the demand for spiritual energy, and have a purity far superior to others.

"That's enough."

With a gentle pat of his sleeve, Wang Xuan summoned the Azure Bird from his spirit beast pouch.

Seemingly sensing the abundant spiritual energy here, the Azure Shadow Sparrow transformed into a phantom, stretching its body freely in the air.

"Chirp—!"

First and second-tier monsters are mostly not very intelligent and follow their animalistic instincts more.

Only demons of the third rank or above possess intelligence similar to that of humans, and fourth-rank demon kings can even take human form.

However, following the connection of the soul contract, Wang Xuan was able to understand Xiao Qing's joy.

He didn't stop him, but let the other person express their pent-up emotions.

After all, while the chances of advancing from a superior bloodline to the Foundation Establishment stage are extremely high, far exceeding those of a superior human spiritual root, there are still unlucky individuals who are simply too unlucky.

Maintaining a good mindset before advancing to the next level will help the Azure Shadow Sparrow break through smoothly.

Half a day later, everything was ready.

Lying prone near the Spirit Eye in the center of the cave, Xiao Qing rubbed her little head against her master's palm before swallowing the pill from Wang Xuan's palm.

This is a near-second-tier pill, the Beast Spirit Pill, which is also the most valuable auxiliary item that Wang Xuan prepared for it.

……