EBE Chapter 326 Return to Yue Kingdom, Nascent Soul Crisis
Chapter 326 Return to Yue Kingdom, Nascent Soul Crisis
"That's... Extreme Thunderwood?"
Lin Changsheng's face showed surprise.
He never expected to discover such a lightning-attribute spirit wood within the forbidden abyss.
Surprised, Lin Changsheng chose to abandon the pursuit of the Thunder Rat Demon and instead flew to the edge of the cliff to examine it carefully.
"That's right, this is the legendary 'Extreme Thunderwood'!"
After confirming it, Lin Changsheng couldn't help but feel secretly delighted, his expression moved.
'Extreme Thunderwood' is a type of spiritual wood that simultaneously possesses the attributes of 'thunder' and 'wood'.
Its formation process is not natural. Instead, ordinary spiritual wood is struck by lightning and then, with a very small probability, absorbs the lightning attribute and stores it in itself, thus forming a new mutated spiritual wood. Therefore, it is also called 'lightning-struck wood' or 'lightning-startled wood'.
It is an excellent material for crafting lightning-attribute magical artifacts and treasures, or for exorcising ghosts and evil spirits, slaying demons and monsters, and refining the souls of the dead.
Unfortunately, this kind of spiritual wood containing lightning attributes is born by chance, with a very low probability, hence its high market price and rarity.
"Such a complete 'Extreme Thunder Magic Wood' is one of the most suitable main materials for refining the magic weapon 'Five Thunder Magic Fan'. I was originally worried about this, but I didn't expect to find it here."
This was a completely unexpected and delightful surprise for Lin Changsheng.
After confirming it once again, Lin Changsheng took action and put away the 'Extreme Thunder Magic Wood'.
However, the third-tier Thunder Rat Demon that had escaped earlier had completely disappeared.
Lin Changsheng couldn't help but sigh, this great demon was spared its life thanks to the 'Extreme Thunder Wood'.
He then took the opportunity to rest and recuperate for about half a day. When he estimated that it was about time, he boarded the Water Cloud Boat and transformed into a streak of light to leave.
When they met again, Su Qin had been waiting there for a long time.
Under Lin Changsheng's concerned inquiry, he learned that Su Qin's master had successfully retrieved the items left behind half an hour ago, but because his nascent soul essence was somewhat damaged, he needed a period of rest.
When Su Qin asked about the great thunder rat demon, Lin Changsheng concealed his true intentions by saying:
"I used many third-tier escape talismans and concealment talismans in succession to escape the pursuit of the Thunder Rat Demon. I then found a safe place to hide for a long time. Only when I could no longer see the Thunder Rat did I dare to return."
"I see. Uncle Lin risked his life for my sake, and I will remember that. If you ever need anything from me in the future, please feel free to ask."
Upon hearing this, Su Qin was moved and did not find anything wrong with what Lin Changsheng said.
On the contrary, they felt that such behavior was in line with Uncle Lin's usual style, and immediately thanked him repeatedly.
Having both gained something, the two decided to leave immediately to avoid any further complications.
To be fair, the forbidden abyss in the Mourning Mountains is indeed rich in resources, but it also harbors hidden dangers.
Even Nascent Soul True Monarchs risked their lives in it, let alone cultivators of other realms.
Such a treasure trove is a bit too much for Su Qin for the time being. He can only wait until his cultivation level improves before trying his luck again.
On his return journey, Su Qin was overjoyed to have achieved his goal. He was so excited that he was practically dancing on the water-cloud boat.
Lin Changsheng not only gathered abundant opportunities on this trip, but also obtained the long-awaited 'quasi-fourth-tier' puppet inheritance, and unexpectedly acquired the 'Extreme Thunder Magic Wood', the main material for refining the Five Thunder Magic Fan, which made him very happy.
During their lively conversation, the two men discussed the situation in the Aiwang Mountains.
Su Qin seemed to know a lot about this, perhaps because he was worried that informing Lin Changsheng in advance would make him back down.
Now that their objective has been achieved and the two have essentially left the mountains without any further risks, they voluntarily revealed what they knew.
Half an hour later, Lin Changsheng finally had a general understanding of the Aiwang Mountain Range.
The reason why this place is full of many demon beast groups is because there is a fourth-order demon king in the forbidden area deep in the Aiwang Mountains.
Once upon a time, a Nascent Soul True Monarch from Fengyuan Kingdom coveted the resources of this place. He joined forces with Nascent Soul True Monarchs from several surrounding countries to secretly infiltrate the area, intending to subdue that fourth-order demon king.
To everyone's surprise, the result was far beyond expectations. Several Nascent Soul True Monarchs attacked together, but not only did they fail to kill the fourth-tier demon king, they were instead severely injured and killed by him.
They even imprisoned a female Nascent Soul True Monarch, making her a slave to the demon race in the forbidden abyss.
Since then, the few Nascent Soul True Monarchs who were lucky enough to survive have remained tight-lipped about what happened back then.
They even designated the Aiwang Mountains as a forbidden area and separated them from the map of Fengyuan Kingdom.
Su Qin's master was one of the Nascent Soul True Monarchs who was severely injured back then. Even in front of his disciple, Su Qin remained tight-lipped about what happened back then.
The only thing Su Qin knew was that the fourth-tier demon king in the Aiwang Mountains possessed immense demonic power and astonishing supernatural abilities, and was also known as the 'Holy Monarch'.
"This 'Holy Ruler' is probably no ordinary fourth-tier demon king..."
"No wonder Senior Aoki was so averse to this place after mastering the Nightmare Moth's talent."
Lin Changsheng's eyes flickered, and he couldn't help but turn around and look back.
……
Half a month later.
Lin Changsheng and Su Qin traveled through several countries, some of which had vast territories, abundant resources, and overall strength far surpassing that of the other country.
But only after setting foot in the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom did the two of them breathe a sigh of relief and feel a sense of familiarity as they returned to their homeland.
Even though the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom can only be considered below average in the entire 'Qianzhou', it is still the homeland that nurtured them.
"Uncle Lin, what are your plans for the future?"
"If we have nowhere to go, we might as well stay at the Nangong family's place for the time being..."
As they parted, Su Qin asked a question, taking the opportunity to try and persuade Su Qin to stay.
Lin Changsheng waved his hand, politely declining Su Qin's invitation.
He vaguely heard that Su Qin had a young and beautiful confidante in the Nangong family. The two were deeply in love and were waiting for Su Qin to advance to the Golden Core stage and stabilize his cultivation before they would officially become Daoist partners.
It can be said that Su Qin has completely integrated into the Nangong family and naturally considers things from the family's perspective.
However, Lin Changsheng's return this time was partly to temporarily fade out of Guigu Zhenjun's sight and test the other party's attitude.
Secondly, he took the opportunity to return and visit some old friends.
Now that it's almost time, it's time to go back.
After all, in the Ghost Valley Sect, Lin Changsheng, as an elder of the Nascent Soul level sect, had the backing of a True Monarch and enjoyed abundant resources, making his cultivation conditions superior to those in the Yue Kingdom.
Furthermore, as long as the teleportation array is confirmed to be intact, it will be very convenient to travel between the two places in the future.
……
Half a day later, Lin Changsheng and Su Qin parted ways.
He planned to go back to the Fengling Chamber of Commerce first.
When he left that year, the materials he asked Zhao Wanning to collect included various auxiliary materials for refining the Five Thunder Fan.
Now that we have the most crucial core material, the remaining parts can be raised within a decade or so, provided we are willing to pay the price.
Suddenly, a solemn voice from the storage bag interrupted Lin Changsheng's thoughts.
"Young Lin, I have another ominous sign."
The Nightmare Moth's voice suddenly rang out.
"An ominous premonition?"
Lin Changsheng's expression changed slightly, and he immediately stopped, pondering for a moment before asking:
"Could you perceive it in more detail, senior?"
Lin Changsheng dared not ignore the Nightmare Moth's 'early warning' talent of seeking good fortune and avoiding misfortune.
"Hmph, you humans are truly insatiable. It's already quite good that you can give me even a slight warning. Do you think I can predict the future?"
Nightmare Moth scoffed at Lin Changsheng's words.
Upon hearing this, Lin Changsheng fell into deep thought.
Upon approaching the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom, the Nightmare Moth issued a warning of danger.
This indicates that the danger lurking in the shadows lies near the cultivation world of the Yue Kingdom.
However, given his current cultivation level, there aren't many ordinary Golden Core cultivators who could pose a challenge to Lin Changsheng.
If Lin Changsheng is determined to escape, even a late-stage Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to pose a threat to him.
Therefore, Lin Changsheng concluded that ordinary Golden Core cultivators were probably not enough to trigger the Nightmare Moth's 'early warning' ability.
"Could it be... a Nascent Soul True Monarch?"
Lin Changsheng secretly speculated in his heart.
However, the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom is guarded by the 'Transformation True Monarch', so it is unlikely that ordinary Nascent Soul True Monarchs would venture into the territory of True Monarchs of the same level.
It's unlikely that 'True Monarch Hua', who is stationed in the Yue Kingdom, would actively target other Golden Core cultivators below him.
Currently, it seems most likely that the neighboring country's Yulingmen is targeting him.
Not long ago, Lin Changsheng killed the Golden Core Elder 'Three Corpse True Man' of the Yuling Sect.
Such a contradiction is almost irreconcilable.
However, he has been living in the Qinglan Sect for many years. Even though the Yuling Sect is very powerful, it cannot openly enter the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom and attack the Qinglan Mountain Gate to seek revenge.
"Even if a Nascent Soul True Monarch from the Spirit Control Sect were to personally intervene, it would be impossible for him to directly enter the Yue Kingdom."
"But since they know that even the Three Corpse Immortals died at his hands, and they still take the initiative to seek revenge, they must have made ample preparations. We cannot be careless."
Lin Changsheng became wary.
With this in mind, he changed his plans and instead of heading to the Fengling Chamber of Commerce, he flew directly to the southern part of Yue Kingdom.
……
Half a day later.
Lin Changsheng was on a street in a market area called 'Hua Nan Xian Fang'.
Huanan Xianfang is under the jurisdiction of Shangqing Palace, but it is far from the core area of Shangqing Palace, so the control is relatively weak.
Upon entering the market, Lin Changsheng found the most luxuriously decorated shop and swaggered inside, making no attempt to conceal his identity.
He didn't even try to hide his inner energy, instantly attracting the attention of everyone in the shop.
At the same time, a fake Core Formation cultivator from Shangqing Palace stationed here suddenly opened his eyes, his gaze revealing surprise.
"Strange, how could a Golden Core cultivator descend upon my small plot of land?"
"Normally, items of rank three or higher don't appear in the Hua Nan Immortal Shop."
The old man who was faking his pill looked suspicious, but he still immediately flew towards the source of the pill energy.
“Senior, I am Yu Xuan, a cultivator from Shangqing Palace stationed here. I was unaware of your presence and have failed to greet you properly. Please forgive any shortcomings in my hospitality.”
Before long, an elderly man dressed in the attire of the Qing Dynasty descended from the sky on a flying magical artifact and landed at the entrance of the shop.
"So it's Fellow Daoist Yu. It's a pleasure to meet you. I am Lin Changsheng. I recently acquired a batch of restricted low-level talismans, and since I happened to be here, I thought I'd sell some of them."
Lin Changsheng smiled faintly and said amicably.
"Lin Changsheng?"
"Could it be... that Lin Fu Master who stayed at the Qinglan Sect a few days ago?"
Upon hearing Lin Changsheng introduce himself, Yu Xuan's aged face showed a thoughtful expression. After a moment, he suddenly realized what was going on and looked over with considerable surprise.
"If there are no other talisman masters with the same name, then it must be me, Lin."
Lin Changsheng still had a smile on his face, gentle and refined.
"It really is Master Lin!"
Yu Xuan's face lit up with surprise.
In the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom, there are not many Golden Core cultivators.
Those who are a little older, or who have access to information about the sect's higher-ups, can easily find out about the situation of these Golden Core cultivators.
Moreover, someone like Lin Changsheng, a well-known talisman master.
"I wonder if Master Lin has any talismans suitable for a junior like myself for sale?"
Upon learning Lin Changsheng's purpose, Yu Xuan became somewhat excited and even took the initiative to act as a junior, asking Lin Changsheng questions.
As a pseudo-Dan Zhenren (a type of cultivator), Yu Xuan has almost no hope of improving his cultivation level. If he wants to enhance his combat power and expand his protective methods, high-quality talismans are a good choice.
However, as an elderly pseudo-core cultivator, his potential and lifespan have both reached their end, rendering him almost worthless. Even with his status as a steward of the Shangqing Palace, it would be difficult for him to make friends with craftsmen of the third rank or above.
After all, cultivators who have mastered skills of the third rank or above are almost always highly sought-after, and most of them are proud and arrogant.
Now, a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity has finally come along, and the other party is a well-known Tier 3 Rune Master, something that is hard to come by.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist Yu, there's no need to be modest. You and I are cultivators of the same level, and we should treat each other as equals."
Lin Changsheng smiled and tried to get closer to Yu Xuan, then pretended to think for a moment before finally speaking:
“Fellow Daoist Yu, you have asked a good question. I happen to have some third-tier spell talismans on hand, which are currently useless to me. It wouldn’t hurt to sell some to you.”
"I had long heard that Master Lin had an excellent reputation for fair business dealings and being approachable. I thought it was just a rumor, but I didn't expect it to be true."
Seeing Lin Changsheng, a mid-stage Golden Core cultivator, lower himself to be an equal with him, a mere Pseudo-Core cultivator, without a trace of the airs of a True Person, filled Yu Xuan with admiration.
"Hehe, Fellow Daoist, you flatter me. I wonder what type of talisman you prefer, as well as your usual talisman casting habits and fighting style, so that I can recommend a suitable talisman based on these factors."
Lin Changsheng asked patiently, appearing extremely professional, and did not show the slightest disrespect for the other party's fake core cultivation.
Before long, at Lin Changsheng's suggestion, Yu Xuan became very interested in several third-tier spell talismans.
Seeing this, Lin Changsheng didn't hesitate and took out the finished product from his storage bag, seemingly casually handing it to the other party.
Yu Xuan accepted the talisman, treasured it like a precious gem, and immediately handed over the spirit stones to complete the transaction.
Subsequently, Lin Changsheng sold some first and second-tier magic talismans in batches in several sizable shops within the Immortal Market.
With his reputation as a third-tier talisman master, and the recommendation of Yu Xuan, the fake alchemy steward stationed here, these talismans were quickly snapped up in the 'South China Immortal Market,' and demand far exceeded supply.
There was even a daring Qi Condensation stage youth who mustered up the courage to stop Lin Changsheng and ask for a deal.
He thought he would at least be reprimanded and rejected by Master Lin, but to his surprise, the other party hesitated for a moment and agreed to the deal.
This news caused a huge stir.
The many independent cultivators in the market gained a clearer understanding of Master Lin's kind and gentle nature.