Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 286 - 178: The Conspiracy Begins

Celestial Profound City.

Since exposing the identity of the Alchemy Master, Lin Chang’an became known as the Wooden Taoist in recent years.

"Fellow Daoist, this is merely a Tier Two Lower Grade Crystal Core."

"Wooden Fellow Daoist! Wooden Senior! I’ll add a bit more."

Wandering through his market (black market), Lin Chang’an, disguised as the Wooden Taoist, maintained a calm demeanor as he exchanged Tier Two elixirs for the resources he needed for his cultivation.

He was long accustomed to such affairs.

However, seeing a quasi-Tier Three elixir to enhance cultivation appear in the market once more, he couldn’t help but feel a twinge of interest.

Ever since their exploration of the Secret Realm ended three years ago, the Fu Family had been discontent and leaked word about the ruins.

Unsurprisingly, many cultivators investigated in secret.

Upon confirming the cave ruins, everyone knew that someone had already taken the treasure in secret.

Thus, over the past three years, some have sporadically used quasi-Tier Three elixirs or spiritual objects to trade for Tier Three equivalents as bait.

After all, after exploring the ruins, many things needed to be digested, and as long as one or two items hit the market, they could trace it back.

But what these people didn’t know was that Lin Chang’an and his two companions no longer lacked cultivation resources and wouldn’t easily take such risks.

"Seems these people are still relentless, waiting for those secretly exploring the ruins to slip up."

Silently contemplating, Lin Chang’an, while pretending to be the cheerful Wooden Taoist, walked over with a smile.

"Fellow Daoist, how about I trade Spirit Stones and two Tier Two Upper Grade Crystal Cores for your quasi-Tier Three elixir?"

However, the person wearing a bamboo hat looked at Lin Chang’an silently, and rasped:

"Fellow Daoist, I only trade for items of equal value."

Ultimately, Lin Chang’an regretfully shook his head and left.

He changed identities along the way until he returned to the cave dwelling.

...

"Moo!"

The Cyan-Horned Bull, once let out, mooed excitedly and headed straight for the pool.

The golden Phoenix Cry Bird flew a circle overhead before landing on his shoulder, affectionately grooming his hair and fanning his shoulder.

Over the years, he got used to it; this bird was truly a bird spirit.

"All these years, you, Bull, have eaten so much of mine that your cultivation is nearly surpassed by the Phoenix Cry Bird."

Seeing the lazy Cyan-Horned Bull lounging in the pool, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but shake his head.

The Phoenix Cry Bird, rare and exotic among spirit beasts, had in just a few short decades reached the cultivation level of the Cyan-Horned Bull.

"Moo!" 𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

Seemingly sensing his master’s comparison, the Cyan-Horned Bull mooed pitifully.

It wanted to grow stronger too, but its upper-grade bloodline simply couldn’t compare with the exotic bloodline of the obnoxious bird.

"Alright, don’t fall behind now."

Patting the Cyan-Horned Bull’s fur, Lin Chang’an shook his head.

With age, he found himself growing more sentimental.

Perhaps seeing old acquaintances like Erniu and Shen Lie gradually age touched something within him.

"Cultivate well, and do not disturb me."

After instructing the two beasts, Lin Chang’an headed into the cave dwelling.

Walking past the outer pavilions, he entered the secluded cave dwelling.

As the stone door to the secret chamber opened, inside was revealed a Tier Two Upper Grade Pill Furnace.

"With these materials, I can refine several batches of Tier Two Upper Grade Elixirs."

As Lin Chang’an began categorizing the collected resources, he especially preserved certain Spirit Fruits and Spirit Grass using special methods to retain their spirituality.

[Tier Two Upper Grade Pill Master (Grandmaster 2/5000)]

"I wonder how much a Tier Two Upper Grade elixir to enhance cultivation will speed up my cultivation pace."

Inwardly contemplating, Lin Chang’an had recently just broken through to a Tier Two Upper Grade Pill Master, and had been gathering materials for refining Tier Two Upper Grade Pills.

"Given my mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivation, taking a Tier Two Upper Grade elixir to enhance cultivation will definitely speed up my cultivation. Naturally, a quasi-Tier Three elixir would be even better."

Recalling the occasional appearance of quasi-Tier Three Elixirs, and even Tier Three items in the market over the past years, Lin Chang’an shook his head.

He didn’t know if he was being overly sensitive, but he always felt these people’s intentions were too obvious, clearly targeting him.

"It’s a pity these Tier Three Elixirs have lost much of their spiritual nature."

Looking at the few bottles of Tier Three Elixirs in his hand, Lin Chang’an felt a pang of regret.

These were upper-grade healing and mana-recovery elixirs among Tier Threes, yet in their hands, it felt like such a waste.

You say to trade them outside, yet even old Hu wouldn’t hesitate; these items cannot be revealed to outsiders.

The slightest leak and it’s courting disaster.

The allure of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range cave ruins is irresistible, even to Golden Core Cultivators.

Thus, they preferred to keep these elixirs in Storage Bags, allowing the potency to gradually decay rather than trade them away.

"If there were elixirs for cultivation enhancement, it would be perfect, but instead they’re all for healing and mana recovery."

While in crucial moments these elixirs were lifesaving artifacts, over the years, even Old Hu had quietly cultivated in Celestial Profound City.

The income from the market was enough for their stable cultivation.

"For safety’s sake, better to keep them stored away."

Shaking his head, Lin Chang’an placed the two bottles of elixirs into his Storage Bag.

The treasures uncovered by the three of them in the Secret Realm were kept strictly hidden, fearing any whisper of it leaking out.

This led them to feel that any commotion in Celestial Profound City must be directed at them.

"In these years, progress in other skills has been decent too."

[Tier Two Upper Grade Talisman Master (Grandmaster 2003/5000)]

[Tier Two Lower Grade Array Master (Proficient 463/500)]