Immortality: Starting with the Fruit of Taiyin

"Hmm... thinking about it that way, the probability is indeed not small."

"Knowing that a crisis is imminent, the Han family probably won't have time to clarify this trivial matter for the time being."

"But when they really suffer a calamity, who will be able to prove my identity?"

"Furthermore, the Han family and the Mu family are already related, so it's quite possible that 'Han Feiyu' could actually become a member of the Han family."

Feeling a bit strange, Wang Xuan hadn't expected that, following the disciples of Nanhua, his alias might very well become known as "Han's Orphan".

Fortunately, no one knew about this, otherwise his reputation as a "corpse-picking alchemist" would probably have been confirmed.

"This luck... it's hard to say whether it's good or bad."

Dispelling distracting thoughts, Wang Xuan turned to checking the storage bags of the Mu family members.

First, the debris was cleaned up, and then nearly a thousand low-grade spirit stones were checked one by one to ensure that no traces were left.

In addition, these storage bags also contained seven or eight low-grade magic artifacts, several first-grade high-grade spirit talismans, medicinal herbs of varying ages, a small bottle of slow-acting poison made by a poison master, and some miscellaneous cultivation manuals.

Wang Xuan roughly estimated that this batch of valuables was worth around two to three thousand low-grade spirit stones.

It was less than expected, but it was in line with the objective situation of the fallen immortal clan.

After all, barring any unforeseen circumstances, before being forced to sell off their clan lands, the Mu family had likely already exhausted all their resources to support their clansmen in attempting to build their foundations, only to have them all fail.

"And this dark little sword is actually a perfectly intact, high-quality magic weapon."

"Its function excels at surprise attacks and assassinations, making it difficult for ordinary people to detect."

"It's probably a relic left behind by the previous generation of the Mu family when they achieved foundation building, which is suitable for my current use."

Secretly guessing, Wang Xuan sensed the power of the magical artifact.

Generally speaking, in the cultivation world, low- to mid-grade magic artifacts can meet the requirements of Qi Refining cultivators, while high-grade and top-grade magic artifacts can meet the requirements of Foundation Establishment cultivators.

But in reality, the so-called "meeting the requirements" is just a basic demonstration of one's abilities.

Just as a Foundation Establishment cultivator must have mastered superior cultivation techniques, if they want to gain an advantage in battles between equals, they cannot follow the basic standards.

For example, high-grade or top-grade magic weapons are used in the late stage of Qi Refining, and "spiritual weapons" that are infused with the essence of demonic beasts and are several times stronger than magic weapons of the same level are used by Foundation Establishment cultivators. Even "talismanic treasures" that seal the origin of magic treasures are the standard equipment for direct descendants of aristocratic families and true disciples of sects.

Of course, as a fallen immortal clan, the Mu family was clearly not among them, so they only had one high-grade magic weapon.

After carefully sorting and storing his valuables, Wang Xuan was somewhat disappointed that he couldn't find any martial arts techniques or secret arts worth seeing, only some herbs that could nourish the mind and improve eyesight.

Clearly, apart from lone cultivators, the cultivation world does not have the habit of carrying their cultivation techniques with them, in order to prevent being robbed of their gold coins.

Especially for the first and second tiers of inheritance, since it doesn't involve 'true meaning,' memorizing it is the safest method.

There's no reason to copy it whenever needed and leave a written record.

……

A moment later, the inventory was completed.

"Overall, a successful counterattack can be more profitable than buying and selling inheritance."

"It's true what they say: murderers and arsonists live in luxury, while those who build bridges and roads leave no trace."

Feeling a pang of emotion, Wang Xuan pondered to himself.

If this kind of operation is repeated a couple more times, I'm afraid I'll even earn enough to build up my Foundation Establishment Pills.

Even so, he was not swayed by this, because if you walk the dark road too often, you will eventually encounter a ghost.

In the line of traitors, besides encountering high-level cultivators who conceal their true strength, one will also occasionally run into old swindlers who use entrapment tactics.

Legend has it that tens of thousands of years ago, in the western border of the Southern Cliff, there was a heretical True Lord who took pleasure in robbing low-level cultivators and regarded resentment and hatred as delicacies. For hundreds of years, no one dared to punish him.

One day, however, he was killed by a Qi Refining cultivator surnamed Xiang. No one knew which hidden master cultivator it was.

For a time, the western border remained peaceful for hundreds of years.

Many cultivators who had undergone tribulation would rather target those at the Foundation Establishment stage than risk the misfortune of those at the Qi Refining stage, which became a laughing stock among the people of the time.

……

In the southeast of the Southern Cliff Great Domain, there are hundreds of large and small cultivation kingdoms ruled by sects, and the Chen Kingdom is one of them.

Within its territory, thirteen prefectures and counties were governed separately, with the Tianshan Sect holding sole control over three prefectures, while the remaining ten prefectures were governed autonomously by six clans and eight tribes.

In peacetime, they only needed to pay taxes, and in wartime they were subject to orders, much like the ancient feudal system of Wang Xuan's previous life.

As a result, Foundation Establishment forces can either radiate to a county or influence a prefecture, stabilizing the region for Core Formation forces, and are generally avoided by ordinary cultivators.

These regulations have been in place for a long time. They are neither as loose as those of the Merchant Alliance, nor as harsh as those of the Demonic Path, nor as strict as those of the Northern Great Zhou. They have a certain sense of moderation.

The Han family of Xiaozeshan, which had only been established for a little over ten years, was just an ordinary small family on the border of Chen State.

Foundation Establishment cultivators typically live for four cycles of sixty years, and even with minor internal injuries, they can generally live for over two hundred years.

If nothing unexpected happens, the Han family will take root here and grow stronger by relying on the second-tier spiritual vein until they reach a certain limit allowed by the Lu family.

But there are no "what ifs" in reality, so on this day, at the foot of Mount Ozawa.

As the setting sun cast its slanting rays, a dim yellow light swept across the mountain, causing Xiaozeshan to tremble slightly, and even the second-tier formation that had been operating at full power for months began to ripple.

It is not a barrier-breaking talisman, but it has some similarities.

At least for formations below the third rank, such talismans that shake the earth's veins can also affect the foundation of the formation.

"Hiss, this is... a second-tier, high-grade Earthquake Talisman?"

"How is this possible? A Foundation Establishment cultivator actually dares to make a move on my Lu Clan's territory! Does he have a death wish?!"

Dozens of miles outside Xiaozeshan, there is an unnamed low slope.

The expression on the face of the Foundation Establishment cultivator from the Lu family, who was originally drinking and enjoying himself, changed drastically. A small bronze shield immediately shone brightly, protecting his body on both sides.

Not long ago, as one of the garrisoned cultivators of Baihefang City, Lu Han suddenly received a message from Lu Qingyi, the genius of his family, saying that a tribulation cultivator would launch a surprise attack on the family's vassals and that he should come to guard against it.

At the time, he naturally didn't believe it, because the risks and benefits of a Foundation Establishment cultivator destroying a family's territory were not actually proportional.

In a cultivation family, the largest asset is always real estate.

As for superficial wealth, it may not even be as abundant as that of a wealthy hermit.

However, now that the situation is unfolding before her, Lu Han has no choice but to believe it.

But then again... if this is true, and the Fourth Miss attaches such importance to it, why did she only inform him?

Could he, a mere early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, truly protect the Han family from the ferocious Foundation Establishment Tribulation cultivators?

"Um?"

"Who's there!"

While he was conflicted, Lu Han suddenly turned around and looked at a pile of rocks a hundred feet away.

Suddenly, a middle-aged man dressed as a Confucian scholar appeared there.

"We've been discovered... As expected of a family specializing in talismans, this spiritual technique combined with the 'Spirit Sensing Talisman' is truly extraordinary."

The middle-aged scholar was not surprised, after all, the person in front of him came from a family that had reached the Core Formation stage.

"But could you please enlighten me... since the Lu family already knew about our actions today, why are you the only one here to stop us?"