Chapter 36: Chapter 36: This Is How You Repay Uncle Lin?

Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, back mountain.

“Old He, you’re quite lucky, even in death someone comes to bury you.”

In the drizzle, having gone out to buy some supplies and passing by the back mountain on the way back, Lin Chang’an decided to take a look at Old He’s grave.

In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, countless cultivators die without a burial place.

However, just as Lin Chang’an was about to leave, shaking his head, he seemed to notice something, and narrowed his eyes.

“This is… someone has been here!”

Old He’s grave had deliberate attempts to erase traces, but the surrounding weeds had clearly been cleaned up.

“Could Old He possibly have family?”

Lin Chang’an was astonished. He distinctly remembered that Old He’s family was all dead, unlikely that someone with a generous heart would tidy up the back mountain.

“Maybe someone cried at the wrong grave!?”

Watching with a heavy expression, Lin Chang’an noticed that the cleaned weeds were clearly done by hand.

He held the Wood Spirit Spike in hand, the Upper Grade Golden Light Talisman tucked within his Dharma Robe was poised to activate.

Damn, going to graves really brings ghosts!

Have tribulation cultivators resorted to lurking at graves now?

In the drizzle, Lin Chang’an squinted, pretending to act indifferent, silently swearing that he’d never visit a grave whenever he passed by here again.

In the drizzle, as Lin Chang’an’s figure disappeared, a figure wearing a bamboo hat slowly emerged from beneath a large tree in the back mountain.

“Uncle Lin.”

In a hoarse voice, the figure under the bamboo hat turned out to be He Yan.

The grandson of Old He, the He Yan rumored to be dead.

Yet, at this moment, He Yan no longer had his youthful arrogance; hints of gray in his hair and marks of aging at the corners of his eyes.

He was clearly a middle-aged man.

…

On the way home, after finding no one following him, Lin Chang’an felt a bit puzzled.

“The market is still too chaotic recently, better be careful these days.”

However, upon returning to his courtyard, a Jade Talisman with glowing Spiritual Light slowly appeared, along with a Jade Scroll.

“It’s a Sound Recording Jade Talisman! Who’s so wasteful!”

Lin Chang’an was astonished because a Sound Recording Jade Talisman alone costs a Spirit Stone, usually used by sects and some major families, not by ordinary cultivators.

“This is!”

The Sound Recording Jade Talisman didn’t transmit any cultivator’s voice, but what caught his eye was a Fire Bomb Talisman inheritance.

“The complete Tier One Fire Bomb Talisman inheritance!”

However, upon receiving this benefit from the heavens, Lin Chang’an immediately stayed cautious.

After confirming several times, he discovered it truly was the complete Tier One Fire Bomb Talisman.

“This is…”

The incomplete mark on the back of the Jade Talisman, a ’He’ character, connected all the clues in Lin Chang’an’s mind.

“Could Old He have been telling the truth back then!?”

Old He used to brag that their ancestors had a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, though the family declined over several generations.

Lin Chang’an stayed silent, seemingly having speculated something.

He Yan wasn’t dead but hadn’t returned nor joined the Li Huo Palace either.

This gave him a bad feeling.

Li Huo Palace is one of the three major sects in the Yue Kingdom, so what made He Yan dare not to meet people? Even giving up his identity as a disciple of Li Huo Palace.

“Could it be that brat joined the Divine Sword Sect!”

Thinking of recent events, Lin Chang’an’s heart tightened, as the Jade Talisman in his hand turned into a burning hot potato.

“Oh dear, good nephew, this is how you repay your Uncle Lin.”

Lin Chang’an memorized the inheritance, destroyed the Jade Talisman and Jade Scroll, erasing all evidence.

At this time, if anyone found out he had connections with the Divine Sword Sect’s tribulation cultivator, even a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn’t fare well.

Even though he understood it might be He Yan’s way of repaying him, despite feeling tempted, he had to erase necessary traces.

“No, I must move!”

Upon making up his mind, Lin Chang’an didn’t hesitate at all, left the courtyard, pretending to act as usual, and went to the Gathering Immortals Tower.

He met once with Shen Lie, then mentioned that Erniu moved to the Zhou Family’s territory, wanting to move too, so he could have someone to rely on later.

Thus logically he moved to the vicinity of Shen Lie, within the eye line of Li Huo Palace, trying to avoid any complication.

Carefully observing for several days, only then did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief, not being overly cautious, but rather avoiding getting involved in a turbulent time.

Yet during this time, major events happen continuously within the market.

Tribulation cultivators ran rampant, demon beasts caused chaos, soon after, news broke out that the Profound Sound Pavilion discovered a Purple Gold Ore. Danger and opportunity overlapped in an instant.

…

“Wow, the Zhou Family really invested big this time, heard they personally brought two Black Wind Wolf pups to visit the Profound Sound Pavilion.”

“Truly bold, if it were in the past, they’d be considered traitors.”

“Heard the Zhou Family’s patriarch doesn’t have much time left.”

This day, Lin Chang’an arrived at the market, listening to the rumors outside, couldn’t help but mutter, could the Zhou Family let such news spread widely?

True Treasure Tower.

“Shopkeeper Miao, I’ll take a set of this small Spirit Gathering Array.”

Crossing through the bustling district, Lin Chang’an arrived at the True Treasure Tower and went directly to Shopkeeper Miao. With a wave of his hand, he placed down two hundred Spirit Stones, causing Shopkeeper Miao to smile widely.

“Ah, Lin Talisman Master, you’re a rare guest indeed.”

The two had been acquainted for a long time, and the news of Lin Chang’an becoming an upper-grade Talisman Master had already spread, so seeing him bring out two hundred Spirit Stones this time was not surprising, but rather filled with envy.

“Lin Talisman Master has a resolute Dao mind, being willing to part with this small Spirit Gathering Array.”

For someone of Lin Chang’an’s age to be willing to spend two hundred Spirit Stones on this indeed speaks to his determined Dao mind.

However, Lin Chang’an shook his head and sighed:

“The world outside is so chaotic, who knows when a fight might break out. Better to seize the moment while my energies are still robust; while Foundation Establishment is out of reach, late-stage Qi Refining is still worth a shot.”

Hearing this, Shopkeeper Miao had an understanding look.

“Lin Talisman Master, here is the Spirit Gathering Array and the method to set it up.”

After understanding how to use the Spirit Gathering Array, Lin Chang’an nodded silently; truly, each of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation has its own application.

In the future, when achieving Foundation Establishment and having two hundred years of lifespan, he certainly planned to learn another auxiliary cultivation skill.

After placing the Spirit Gathering Array into his storage bag, Lin Chang’an also purchased some other cultivation resources before turning to leave.

…

Market Slum District.

In a dim room, a crowd of shadows gathered.

Among them, three Foundation Establishment cultivators, emitting a sinister aura, looked towards a group of more than ten late-stage Qi Refining cultivators below.

They all had sunken eyes and sallow, emaciated appearances, clearly having cultivated Demon Dao techniques that squeeze potential.

“Do you have any news?”

The group of late-stage Qi Refining cultivators shook their heads in unison, among them, an extraordinarily grave He Yan rasped hoarsely:

“Reporting to my lord, the situation was too chaotic at the time, we pursued for several days to no avail, I’m afraid…”

Though He Yan did not speak it, the three Foundation Establishment cultivators could not contain their anger, rebuking:

“Bunch of useless lot, fighting tooth and nail only to have a group of Loose Cultivators take advantage!”

“Hah, exactly, the storage bags from the Zhou Family and Profound Sound Pavilion had a Foundation Establishment Pill in them, yet they were snatched away by some parasitic wretch in the confusion.”

Just as the three Foundation Establishment cultivators were lowering their voices in anger, suddenly a figure appeared in the room.

“Greetings, Lord Protector!”

The three Foundation Establishment cultivators paled and hastily knelt on one knee, addressing the Protector.

The person who appeared had a pale and sinister expression, coldly surveying everyone before chastising:

“Bunch of useless fools, your task was to incite chaos in Yue Kingdom, not to vie for some Foundation Establishment Pill. Isn’t the Foundation Stealing Technique of our Profound Yin Divine Sect sufficient!?”

This statement terrified the three Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators into whiteness, they hurriedly clasped their hands in plea.

“Forgive us, my lord!”

“Fools!”

As the bloodthirsty voice echoed, cold sweat streamed from everyone who dared not refute, one person eager to make amends, hastily bowed and reported:

“Reporting to my lord, someone in the Zhou Family is discontented and seeks Foundation Establishment…”

Hearing this, everyone was shocked to learn that someone in the Zhou Family had betrayed their clan for Foundation Establishment, even disclosing the vulnerability of their Clan Guardian Spirit Beast’s impending birth.

“The Zhou Family’s Clan Guardian Spirit Beast, the Profound Water Turtle, is on the verge of giving birth! That’s certainly some valuable news.”

Under the Protector’s commendation, the reporting Foundation Establishment cultivator exhaled in relief, displaying a sycophantic smile.

Whereas the sinister Protector flashed a terrifying grin.

“Heh heh, you’ve been bumbling about for ages, do you know why chaos hasn’t erupted yet?”

Perplexed, the cultivators lowered their heads, gripped by uncertainty.

The Protector sneered, “Because these Loose Cultivators aren’t crazy enough! Their greed hasn’t been completely roused; just wait till one or two succeed in Foundation Establishment, then guess what?”

At this, everyone couldn’t help but shudder.

Once one or two achieve Foundation Establishment, hope ignites among the Loose Cultivators, opening the floodgates of desire, driving them utterly mad.

“The Protector is wise!”

One individual tried to curry favor, but upon hearing this sycophant’s words, the sinister Protector revealed a fierce smile.

“Very well! Then you shall be the one to accomplish this task!”

“Me!” The flattering Foundation Establishment cultivator’s eyes widened, but seeing the other’s intimidating gaze, he quickly clasped his hands and promised:

“Rest assured, my lord, I will certainly lure these traitors in!”

“And you all!” The Protector turned to the tense Qi Refining cultivators, smiling ominously.

“I heard you wish to achieve Foundation Establishment? The opportunity is before you; as long as you render great service, I will personally use the Divine Sect’s Foundation Stealing Secret Technique to assist you.”

Foundation Establishment! That was a realm they never dared dream of.

Though the Foundation Stealing Technique required a substantial price, it surpassed not even having a chance.

“What are you waiting for, get to work and throw Yue Kingdom into chaos.”

“Yes!”

As the members of the Demon Cult departed, the Protector’s eyes grew colder.

“Heh heh, the patriarch was right, there are indeed traces of a Secret Realm in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. With the patriarch currently in seclusion, now is the perfect time to use these pawns to scout.

With my Fake Pill Realm cultivation, the market is merely a collection of Foundation Establishment cultivators; a mantis to watch the cicada, unaware of the oriole following, manipulating the chaos to my advantage, I truly possess the makings of the patriarch.”

In the dimly lit space, a hoarse laugh echoed.

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