I Shall Be Everlasting In the World of Immortals

Chapter 163: A Fragment of a Spiritual Treasure

The upper echelons of the Liang Kingdom’s sects had thoughts of waging war on the Feng Kingdom. Any slight movement would inevitably lead to a surge in the prices of war supplies.

Lan Chang\'an speculated that sects and other influential forces were likely already quietly stockpiling war materials.

These major forces wouldn’t seek out individuals or a specific merchant association to collect such resources. They had their own industries, guilds, and even their own developed immortal cities or medium to large marketplaces.

However, whether these upper-echelon plans would truly be put into action was still uncertain a few years ago. After today\'s conversation with Zhang Tieshan, Lan Chang\'an received a definitive answer.

The situation was better than he had anticipated. At the very least, the cultivation war would not take place within the Liang Kingdom.

There was even the potential to make another considerable profit.

Back during the beast tide, Lan Chang\'an had purchased a batch of materials at low prices and stockpiled many second-rank talismans.

In the past few years, he had gradually sold off all materials below the second rank and made a substantial profit.

The talismans could be stored for a longer period of time, and so far, Lan Chang\'an still had quite a big stock of second-rank talismans on hand.

During wartime, the price of materials would likely reach a century-high peak.

"The Feng Kingdom\'s cultivation culture is more prosperous, with vast lands and abundant resources. If we can invade that country, it would be an unprecedented opportunity for sects and even individual cultivators," Zhang Tieshan said, symbolically asking Lan Chang\'an, "At that time, all major sects will heavily recruit willing loose cultivators. Fellow Daoist Lan, are you interested in participating?"

Lan Chang\'an understood that as an invader, if one succeeded, they could accumulate wealth equivalent to several lifetimes.

Plundering is always the fastest way to amass capital.

"I cultivate a life-nurturing technique and have mediocre mana strength. How could I have such ambitions?" Lan Chang\'an shook his head and sighed.

He was content being an opportunist, earning a significant amount of spirit stones behind the scenes during the war.

Zhang Tieshan wasn’t surprised that Lan Chang\'an declined.

He had asked because he knew that Lan Chang\'an wasn’t as simple as he appeared and that his combat strength should be quite formidable within his level.

When Lan Chang\'an killed the Evil-Faced Flying Eagle years ago, he displayed exceptional combat talent and also practiced body refinement.

However, with Lan Chang\'an’s current progress in cultivation, reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage would be challenging, and forming a Core seemed almost impossible.

If he could seize the opportunity to invade a neighboring country and plunder enough capital, he might have a chance at forming a Fake Dan.

Zhang Tieshan then inquired about Lin Lu’s thoughts.

"Junior will consider it," Lin Lu responded without giving a definite answer.

In fact, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator of the sect, he might be sent to participate in the neighboring country’s war. If Lin Lu volunteered, it wouldn’t be difficult. If he didn’t want to go, he might not have the final say.

After learning about the upper echelons’ plans in the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world, Lan Chang\'an had mostly accomplished the purpose of his visit.

They then chatted about lighter topics.

Zhang Tieshan also gave Lin Lu some guidance on his cultivation.

Lin Lu had the illusion that Zhang Tieshan’s advice wasn’t as beneficial as what Uncle Lan had given him earlier. Lan Chang\'an’s previous casual pointers seemed more targeted at his current predicament.

"Uncle Lan, Uncle Zhang. Junior has gained something from today and plans to return to seclusion," Lin Lu said as he excused himself, leaving the two elders to continue their conversation.

Zhang Tieshan didn’t try to keep him, continuing his discussion with Lan Chang\'an.

...

"Fellow Daoist Lan, you’re now a second-rank superior-grade talisman master. Do you have any high-quality talismans for sale?" Zhang Tieshan asked.

During the preparation phase for war, Zhang Tieshan had a considerable demand for high-quality war supplies.

As consumables, talismans that only require a small amount of mana to activate are always in high demand during cultivation wars, no matter the level of the cultivator.

Buying from Lan Chang\'an not only guaranteed quality but also ensured privacy.

"With your cultivation level, Zhang Fellow Daoist, the talismans that might catch your eye would at least be second-rank superior-grade or higher. I don’t have many of stock of those," Lan Chang\'an said slowly, taking out a talisman box.

Inside were seven second-rank superior-grade talismans, including offensive, defensive, escape, and utility types.

Zhang Tieshan, at the late stage of Foundation Establishment, was at the eighth level and had outstanding combat strength among his peers.

"Not bad," Zhang Tieshan nodded, satisfied with the quality of the talismans, and intended to purchase them all.

"Can you craft quasi-third-rank or top-tier second-rank talismans?" He looked at Lan Chang\'an with some anticipation.

Quasi-third-rank corresponds to Fake-Dan level.

Top-tier second-rank talismans are rare and considered premium products, they are comparable to the full power of a peak Foundation Establishment spell.

"You overestimate me, Fellow Daoist Zhang. I’ve only been a second-rank superior-grade talisman master for a few years. Crafting top-tier second-rank talismans requires considerable cost," Lan Chang\'an said with a sigh.

Since Zhang Tieshan had brought it up, Lan Chang\'an took out two top-tier second-rank talismans, one for defense and one for escape.

In recent years, with the quasi-third-rank talisman brush gifted by Fu Dong, the probability of producing top-tier talismans had increased significantly.

"Haha! I knew it! With your personality, you’d definitely keep something special hidden," Zhang Tieshan laughed as he accepted the two top-tier second-rank talismans, clearly pleased.

Due to the limitations of materials, cultivation level, and talent, third-rank talisman masters were exceedingly rare across the entire Liang Kingdom, especially due to material restrictions.

To craft a third-rank talisman, one must use materials from key parts of a Core Formation Realm demonic beast, along with corresponding spirit ink and talisman brushes.

As a result, top-tier second-rank or quasi-third-rank talismans were already the most valuable talismans available on the market, and ordinary cultivators couldn’t buy them without connections.

On the eve of war, their rarity increased even more.

Zhang Tieshan, wealthy and influential, spent several thousand of spirit stones, more than the cost of three supreme-grade magical weapons, to buy this batch of high-quality second-rank talismans.

Lan Chang\'an could sense that Zhang Tieshan’s financial resources far surpassed those of his peers.

In addition to his formidable combat strength, Zhang Tieshan was also a skilled second-rank artifact refiner.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, if you do participate in the war, you might need some expendable soldiers. Would you be interested in purchasing second-rank puppets?" Lan Chang\'an’s mind stirred, and he began to pitch his puppets.

He had openly practiced puppet techniques on the side for decades. During the war, he planned to reveal his skills as a second-rank puppet master.

Decades ago, before the opening of the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm, he had privately sold puppets to Zhao Siyao.

"The best would be second-rank mid-grade puppets," Zhang Tieshan said, contemplating.

When used well, puppets could act as an extra pair of hands in critical moments, helping cultivators share the risks.

Puppets were even rarer than talismans of the same grade.

Lan Chang\'an took out five second-rank puppets, two mid-grade and three low-grade.

Zhang Tieshan bought the two mid-grade puppets.

One of them was a turtle puppet with exceptional defense, capable of withstanding a Foundation Establishment late-stage cultivator for some time.

After some thought, Zhang Tieshan also picked a flying-type second-rank low-grade puppet, which could serve as a flying mount in emergencies.

Including the talismans, Zhang Tieshan spent over ten thousand spirit stones on Lan Chang\'an’s goods.

Due to the rising prices of war supplies, the cost was much higher than usual.

Lan Chang\'an’s old puppet stock had now turned a profit.

Through this transaction, both Lan Chang\'an and Zhang Tieshan gained a deeper understanding of each other’s financial strength.

...

Half an hour later, Zhang Tieshan escorted Lan Chang\'an to outside the cave.

Watching the departing figure in white, Zhang Tieshan returned to his cave, a thoughtful expression on his face, a hint of curiosity in his eyes.

He raised his hand and lightly tapped his dantian three times.

"Senior Artifact Spirit, over the years you’ve absorbed a considerable amount of metallic essence, and your senses have sharpened. Have you detected anything unusual about Fellow Daoist Lan?" Zhang Tieshan communicated with the fragment of the spiritual treasure deep within his sea of consciousness.

"A wood-based cultivation technique, strong in vitality, capable of prolonging life."

"There’s also a fairly well-nurtured magical treasure prototype. He is slightly above average, I’d say."

A childish yet deliberately old-sounding voice came from the fragment of the spiritual treasure.

"That’s what you call slightly above average?" Zhang Tieshan’s face twitched.

Wood-based techniques that extend life are mostly third-rank and above, requiring significant sect contributions to exchange.

Having a magical treasure prototype at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage already places him above most late Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"Don’t make a fuss. Compared to the top sects of the Heaven Honoured Continent, such as the elite disciples of the Ethereal Sect or the Three Saints Temple in the Central State, you and this son aren’t even worthy of carrying their shoes."

"Senior Artifact Spirit speaks the truth," Zhang Tieshan agreed.

According to the spiritual treasure fragment, when it was whole, its past owners were at least in the late Nascent Soul Realm, or even in the Deity Transformation Realm. Even if there was some exaggeration, its knowledge far surpassed that of ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarchs.

"Unless it’s something important, don’t disturb this artifact spirit!"

"Hurry up and find more metallic spirit mines and treasures to help this artifact spirit recover more of its spirituality and locate other fragments."

To minimize its energy consumption, the artifact spirit quickly fell back into a slumber.

When it deliberately hid itself, even a Nascent Soul True Monarch would find it difficult to detect its existence.

...

A few days after Lan Chang\'an’s departure.

In a cave on the outer peak of Jin Yun Valley.

The spiritual energy of heaven and earth stirred slightly, and a surge of mana rose, breaking through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

"Finally, after decades of stagnation, I’ve succeeded," Lin Lu opened his eyes, feeling much more cheerful.

In the sect, Foundation Establishment cultivators are considered the backbone.

Every breakthrough in a minor realm brings significant changes in status and treatment, especially when reaching the late Foundation Establishment stage.

"All thanks to Uncle Lan’s pointers and that Jade Clear Pill,\'" Lin Lu thought gratefully.

For Lan Chang\'an, it might have been just a regular transaction and some casual advice for a junior. But for Lin Lu, it had helped him break through decades of stagnation.

"My spiritual root aptitude isn’t even mid-grade. I’m considered subpar among Foundation Establishment cultivators."

Since reaching the Foundation Establishment Realm, Lin Lu had felt the difficulty of cultivation. He had no opportunities of his own and was also burdened with sect duties.

"If I don’t take a gamble and venture out, I’ll have no hope of ever forming a Fake-Dan. I might even struggle to break through to the late stage of the Foundation Establishment Realm."

As he circulated his mana to stabilize his realm, Lin Lu’s gaze gradually grew determined as he cast his eyes towards the south of the Liang Kingdom.

(End of chapter)