Chapter 334: Chapter 197: Meeting Old Acquaintances in a Foreign Land, Targeting Familiar Faces

Inside the private room, Old Daoist Guan set up a table full of food and drink, even personally pouring wine for Lin Chang’an with a broad smile.

Lin Chang’an also nodded with a smile, accepting the other’s hospitality with peace of mind.

“Mr. Guan, you’re too kind.”

After exchanging pleasantries, the two began discussing their situations over the years and where they had settled.

Old Daoist Guan, at Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, was also a Talisman Master, but his skills clearly stayed at Tier One, with long-term focus on demon beast hunting.

After arriving here, he frequently teamed up with others to venture out to sea for hunting expeditions.

Listening to Old Daoist Guan’s experiences, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but admire him.

“Mr. Guan, you remain in high spirits, and I believe it won’t be long before you break through to Late-stage Foundation Establishment. Then Core Formation will be within reach.”

Isn’t it always the case among fellow cultivators that they flatter each other by saying Core Formation is just around the corner?

Of course, everyone knows this phrase is as common as wishing someone wealth in the mortal world, but in reality, few actually become wealthy.

“Ah, I’m no match for Mr. Lin. Once I break through to Late-stage Foundation Establishment and gather some resources, I’ll return to the Yue Kingdom, and then, heh heh…”

Old Daoist Guan smiled broadly, talking about how he planned to branch out and become an elder in his hometown.

Given the current situation in the Seven Kingdoms, if Old Daoist Guan can break through to Late-stage Foundation Establishment, he might actually become a local elder.

After all, he is only a little over 130 years old, though due to the cultivation technique and his youthful demon beast hunting, he appears rather old.

Upon returning, he will have more than a hundred years of good life, enough time to branch out and maybe, with some luck, foster one or two Foundation Establishment descendants.

Then Lin Chang’an also smiled and mentioned how he settled on Jade Spirit Island, where he continued his usual talisman painting and cultivation, maintaining a routine of hardship.

However, upon hearing that he was with Hu Jin, Old Daoist Guan’s expression flickered with a strange look but then laughed and said:

“Mr. Lin, since Mr. Hu is also around, why not gather together? It would be rare to meet again in the future.”

Eventually, Lin Chang’an smiled and explained that Hu Jin was still on Jade Spirit Island, and Old Daoist Guan secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

When two people meet in the restaurant, it’s hard not to have a good talk. Naturally, Old Daoist Guan took this opportunity to procure talismans from Lin Chang’an without fail.

“Mr. Guan, you’re requesting a considerable amount.”

“Ah, Mr. Lin, you know this place is fraught with danger, much more dangerous than the Cloud Mist Mountain Range.”

Lin Chang’an feigned a bitter smile, saying he almost used up all his resources and truly didn’t have extra talismans.

Eventually, Mr. Guan gave up, then helplessly explained:

“Mr. Lin, Old Daoist and some fellow cultivators discovered a beast nest and want to investigate, so naturally, preparations must be made.”

Lin Chang’an understood after hearing this, as everything seemed so reasonable.

“Mr. Lin, I might bring some fellow cultivators to visit Jade Spirit Island in the future, I hope it won’t trouble you.”

Lin Chang’an nodded with a smile, saying they’re welcome.

After all, bringing customers for talisman purchases is naturally a good thing.

…

Until Old Daoist Guan left, Lin Chang’an sat quietly in the private room, watching his disappearing figure through the window, the smile on his face gradually fading.

“Mr. Guan, it seems you really have your eyes set on me.”

In foreign lands, when you meet old acquaintances, most of the time old acquaintances set traps for old acquaintances.

“Buying so many talismans from me, that’s truly cautious.”

Lin Chang’an gently sipped his drink, knowing this food and drink were clean, and everything appeared normal, and the person had left.

If it wasn’t discovered that they were familiar with this female cultivator, generally one wouldn’t think it was to empty his talismans and reduce his strength.

“But, no hurry, let’s take it slow, I have plenty of time.”

Smelling the nearly imperceptible scent on his clothes, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smirk.

The fragrance of this female cultivator seemed easy to clean off, but actually, there was still a trace remaining. It’s not mana fragrance, so he couldn’t sense it.

“It was really fortunate that I had the Zhou Family’s Record of Exotic Beasts.”

Lin Chang’an took a bundle of jade scrolls from the Storage Bag, looking at the elegant handwriting on them, given to him by Zhou Bingyun.

“Found it.”

Spirit Insect List, ’Jade Crystal Queen’ colony spirit insects, fond of flower nectar, highly poisonous, rumored to be abundant in the Demon Beast Abyss region. Many insect cultivation clans raise and breed them, and Jade Crystal Honey is highly valuable, with beauty-preserving effects…

Looking at the documented information, especially the elegantly marked personal experience notes.

[The top-grade Jade Crystal Honey, the Jade Crystal Honey serves as a remarkable beauty preservative. A slight contamination allows the queen bee to sense it within several dozen days…]

“I remember during the Celestial Profound City auction, Zhou Bingyun envied how many female cultivators would apply this for its beauty-preserving effects.”

If he hadn’t seen it before, combined with the evident acquaintance with Mr. Guan, he might have overlooked it.

Now, the lingering scent on him was actually from this Jade Crystal Honey.

“No wonder Bingyun is so knowledgeable about such an obscure spirit insect, it must be due to its beauty-preserving properties.”

Lin Chang’an shook his head, what was originally for assisting cultivation ended up being eyed by female cultivators for its value multiplied several times.

He cultivated the Wood Attribute Technique, which naturally had beauty-preserving effects, so he hadn’t paid much attention to it.

In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, strength is respected; hardly any cultivators would use precious resources for beauty preservation, only some female cultivators would do so.

…

Next, Lin Chang’an continued shopping for five days before disguising himself and leaving Five Dragons Island.

“This majestic Daoist friend has finally left, if he didn’t leave, I wouldn’t be able to track this scent.”

This beautiful, tall female cultivator patted her chest and gazed in Lin Chang’an’s disappearing direction with a hint of greed in her eyes.

“Hmph, lust is a deadly trap; this is a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, be careful.”

The pale-faced scholar beside her spoke in a serious tone, while the female cultivator beside him chuckled, licking her lips.

“I love using force, lust as a deadly trap, but eventually it’ll become a soft blade.”

After the beautiful, tall female cultivator laughed enchantingly, the pale-faced scholar’s eyes showed a trace of fear.

This female cultivator is actually a Poison Cultivator who uses unconventional methods.

Once caught by her, one would become her nourishment.

“Alright, Old Daoist Guan has been waiting impatiently, I’ll send him a message to wait ahead, then the three of us will join forces, after all, it’s just a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.”

The pale-faced scholar lightly nodded, and after the beautiful female cultivator summoned a fist-sized Jade Crystal Queen, the two followed behind the queen bee.

…

On the sea, Lin Chang’an used sword control for flight, feeling the sea breeze, squinting his eyes in a state of pleasure.

“After such a long retreat, it’s rare to explore the vast sky, just a pity.”

Lin Chang’an shook his head, a pity that someone chose to disrupt his good mood.

A streak of light rapidly chased from behind, the beautiful female cultivator on the flying boat laughed:

“My flying boat is incredibly fast, even when compared to the speed-focused cultivators at Peak Late-stage Foundation Establishment.”

The pale-faced scholar on the flying boat felt envy mixed with disdain, thinking what is your flying boat, but instead one you’ll obtain from a scheme.

Saying it sounds better than it is.

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an, rushing back, was coincidentally met by Old Daoist Guan.

“Talisman Master Lin? What brings you here?”

“Carelessness, wanted to invite some friends to hunt demon beasts, unexpectedly encountered Tribulation Cultivators. Thanks to your talismans, Mr. Lin… who knows what would’ve happened.”

They coincidentally met like this, especially with Old Daoist Guan holding his arm, appearing to have escaped danger.

“Glad to hear you’re fine, Mr. Guan.”

Lin Chang’an showed concern, inwardly sighing that acquaintances deceiving acquaintances is so elaborately planned, it seems they’ve done this before.

Generally speaking, a cultivator’s guard would be naturally lowered.

“Heh, but I’m no easy target, those two Tribulation Cultivators didn’t get away with much either.”

Old Daoist Guan laughed ruthlessly and then showed he was fine.

“Mr. Guan, seeing you’re injured, why not come back to the island with me for some recovery?”

The other person acts well; Lin Chang’an acts better, with a face full of sincerity.

Old Daoist Guan, wanting to maintain suspicion, waved with a smile.

“Mr. Lin, we’re heading the same way, but I’ll visit another day.”

This way of being familiar yet secretly cautious fits perfectly with the normal mentality of an injured cultivator.

After all, familiarity doesn’t reach that level.

Traveling a stretch together, taking the opportunity to recover mana, raises no suspicion.

Indeed, Lin Chang’an lowered his guard visibly; Old Daoist Guan also displayed a slightly embarrassed smile, as if apologizing for his caution.

But neither said much, keeping a distance and traveling together.

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