Seeing that Shen Bixin was so pleased with the outco, Lan Chang'an was sowhat surprised.
"Oh? Could it be that Miss Shen has so specific needs at the mont?"
"Not at the mont."
Shen Bixin pursed her lips and smiled, praising, "Fellow Daoist Lan has a steadfast character and unwavering resolve. You are a friend I can trust."
"Simply having you owe a favor is more than satisfactory for ."
Watching Shen Bixin's smiling face, Lan Chang'an felt a strange sensation in his heart.
He pondered: We don't have a particularly deep relationship. How can she be so sure of my character? It shouldn't be based just on hearsay.
It seed to Lan Chang'an that Shen Bixin's explanation was not the whole story; there were likely other considerations at play.
That said, Lan Chang'an had always kept a low profile, focusing diligently on his cultivation without entangling himself in external affairs. This, combined with his reputation as a late bloor, had earned him a favorable standing in the eyes of others.
Even his nickna, "Turtle Talisman Master," was more of a light-hearted jest without any real malice behind it.
Considering that Shen Bixin was already a betrothed woman, Lan Chang'an didn't linger. He promptly took his leave.
As he rose to depart, Shen Bixin suddenly asked, "Fellow Daoist Lan, you seem to have so connections with Huanglong Mountain?"
"Huanglong Mountain? We have had so dealings, but nothing particularly close," Lan Chang'an replied.
Huanglong Mountain’s Immortal Ji and Fu Dong had visited Little Turtle Peak in the past, and Huanglong Mountain had helped Lan Chang'an gather materials. These interactions were not hidden from those with a keen eye.
"There's a recent rumor that Huanglong Immortal is gravely ill and may not survive more than a year or two," Shen Bixin shared so information.
"Huanglong Immortal is gravely ill?" Lan Chang'an was taken aback and did so quick calculations.
It had been about fourteen or fifteen years since Fu Xuei ford her Core.
The once number one loose cultivator in the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world was indeed nearing the end of his lifespan.
Due to various factors, Huanglong Immortal’s lifespan was a hundred years shorter than the theoretical lifespan of a True-Dan cultivator.
"Huanglong Immortal has had a glorious life, reigning over the cultivation world of the Liang Kingdom for centuries, earning respect from all major sects and families. His life has been one of great achievent," Lan Chang'an spoke with respect.
During the peak of Huanglong Immortal's fa, Lan Chang'an had not yet embarked on his cultivation journey in this life.
They were not from the sa era.
As such, Lan Chang'an had only heard of him but never had direct contact with Huanglong Immortal.
"If Huanglong Immortal passes away, certain forces may seize the opportunity to target his lineage. Fellow Daoist Lan, you should be careful then."
"Thank you for the reminder, Miss Shen."
Lan Chang'an understood the underlying ssage in Shen Bixin's words and cupped his hands in farewell before flying away from the Tengxing rchant Association's residence.
Shen Bixin watched his departing figure, lost in thought, recalling the mont when she was rescued and saw a glimr of hope in her desperate situation.
She had a hunch that this low-profile and unflappable "Turtle Talisman Master" was no ordinary person.
Today's bets might have to wait until a future day to be verified.
...
Three months later.
News from the Feng Kingdom battlefield spread throughout the Liang Kingdom, causing a stir.
By this ti, the general cultivators were only just learning about the Liang Kingdom sects' defeat.
Those in the middle and upper echelons had been aware of the related intelligence for so ti.
"The Nascent Soul True Monarch of Fla Departing Palace fought two enemy Nascent Soul cultivators and unfortunately lost, suffering injuries?"
The mainstream information Lan Chang'an received from the outside world was, to put it mildly, a gross understatent of the truth.
What had been a devastating and near-fatal defeat was described as a "narrow defeat."
Low-level cultivators who didn't know the details might even be misled into believing that the Supre Elder of Fla Departing Palace was incredibly brave, barely losing to two Nascent Soul cultivators in a heroic battle.
"Fla Departing Palace may not excel in warfare, but their control over the public opinion in the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world is not bad at all." Lan Chang'an could understand this approach.
In cultivation wars, both sides spread all kinds of false information to confuse and create panic.
It was indeed necessary to control internal rumors and suppress those who spread unhelpful gossip.
Besides the condition of the Nascent Soul True Monarch, the number of casualties among Core Formation and Foundation Establishnt cultivators was also partially concealed.
These details couldn’t be hidden from those in power within various factions, but as long as they could stabilize the majority of the lower and middle-tier cultivators, the upper echelons of the Liang Kingdom’s sects would have achieved their goal.
Regarding the war news, the three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain had a private eting.
Fairy Shi, who had her own information channels, ntioned that the Liang Kingdom sects suffered a disastrous defeat, with losses greater than what was being reported externally.
She speculated that the Liang Kingdom sects would likely cease their invasion and retreat to their own borders to recuperate.
"Let’s hope the war ends soon and the Liang Kingdom’s cultivation world quickly returns to stability," Ye Fei said expectantly.
Due to the ongoing war, many sect cultivators were sent to the frontlines, leading to a noticeable decline in law and order throughout the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world.
In recent years, Wuqi Mountain's business had suffered greatly.
"Let’s hope so," Lan Chang'an said, though he knew that in the not-too-distant future, the flas of war might very well reach the Liang Kingdom.
...
As the news of the war spread, communication between Jin Yun Valley and the outside world returned to normal.
Over the next two months, Lan Chang'an received two letters from Zhao Tan'er.
One was a ssage directly from Zhao Tan'er herself.
The other was a letter sent from the frontlines by Zhao Siyao.
In her letter, Zhao Siyao ntioned that she had already withdrawn from the battlefield and was on her way back to Jin Yun Valley in the Liang Kingdom.
She briefly described the war, and despite the few words, Lan Chang'an could feel the intensity of the battles.
"Thanks to Fellow Daoist Lan, I narrowly escaped death. By teaming up with Senior Brother Zhang Tieshan, we were fortunate to kill a Fake-Dan Immortal from the enemy nation. Due to this significant contribution, we were both seriously injured but were among the first to be withdrawn..."
"Killing a Fake-Dan Immortal?" Lan Chang'an's heart skipped a beat.
Zhao Siyao’s description was very reserved, and given the tacit understanding between them, it was clear that she hadn't revealed the origin of the treasure talisman.
If that treasure talisman was activated, outsiders would only assu it to be a normal third-rank talisman.
For a late-stage Foundation Establishnt elite from a sect, acquiring a third-rank talisman by chance wasn't too far-fetched.
A single third-rank talisman had little appeal to a True-Dan Immortal.
"Under normal circumstances, Zhao Siyao alone wouldn't have been able to kill a Fake-Dan cultivator using that treasure talisman. Zhang Tieshan must have had so ans of threatening a Fake-Dan cultivator," Lan Chang'an pondered.
At the end of the letter, Zhao Siyao expressed her hope that once she and Zhang Tieshan returned to the sect and recovered from their injuries, Lan Chang'an could visit them for a gathering.
After recovering, Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan planned to focus entirely on their cultivation, with the goal of achieving Core Formation.
From the sharpening of the battlefield, Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan had gained a lot, making their cultivation progress smoother.
"In a number of years, so of the friends I’ve made in this life might reach the level of True-Dan Immortals," Lan Chang'an smiled as he put away the letter.
Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan were both at a similar cultivation level, each at the ninth level of the Foundation Establishnt stage.
However, it would still take them so years to reach the peak of the late Foundation Establishnt stage.
Besides these two friends, Lan Chang'an’s other associates, like Fairy Shi and the friendly connections he had with Song Wenshu and Zhou Qingxuan, were also at similar stages.
Reaching the late stage of Foundation Establishnt was already a significant achievent, outpacing most of their peers.
However, the step to Core Formation was even harder.
Many late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators struggled for decades without success, or they could only achieve a Fake-Dan, which extended their lifespan by just over a hundred years, leaving them stuck at that level for life.
The Fake-Dan was essentially seen as a "half-step Core Formation" that many True-Dan cultivators did not recognize.
"These old friends might have a reasonable chance at achieving a Fake Dan, but how many of them could truly form a True Dan? I wonder if even one or two might succeed?"
Lan Chang'an pondered the future, unsure if he would have the chance to witness it himself.
Forming a True Dan was a monuntal achievent that could elevate one to the upper echelons of any major power in the Great Qing cultivation world.
...
A month later.
Lan Chang'an received word from the Tengxing rchant Association and made a trip to Liaoyuan Immortal City.
This ti, when he visited the association's residence, he did not see Shen Bixin.
Instead, he was greeted by an Elder of the association at the peak of late-stage Foundation Establishnt, who was a direct senior relative of Shen Bixin.
"Finally got the materials."
An hour later, Lan Chang'an left Liaoyuan Immortal City with an extra bulging storage pouch hanging from his waist.
The entire transaction process went smoothly.
Lan Chang'an purchased the third-rank spirit sand, top-grade puppets, and quasi-third-rank puppet materials at market price.
Since these were basic materials, they were not excessively expensive, but the purchase still cost him over ten thousand low-grade spirit stones.
Given that he left imdiately, Lan Chang'an didn't conceal his identity.
"Nobody’s following . The Tengxing rchant Association’s reputation is quite reliable."
Even after flying hundreds of li away from Liaoyuan Immortal City, that was the case. Lan Chang'an silently nodded in satisfaction.
During the flight, he frequently used the second life of the Nine Seal Stele to scan his surroundings, confirming that there were no behind him.
In relative terms, the transaction amount was significant enough to attract attention for a typical mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
It wasn't that Lan Chang'an had beco reckless; rather, the current situation was different from before.
Risk and strength are inversely related.
The thods Lan Chang'an had displayed to protect himself were far beyond those of a typical mid-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivator.
The strongest individual in the Tengxing rchant Association was only a Fake-Dan cultivator.
At most, this transaction might attract the attention of a Fake-Dan cultivator or a group of late-stage Foundation Establishnt cultivators.
In the current special circumstances, as long as his own secrets weren’t exposed, Lan Chang'an didn’t mind taking on so controllable risks to speed up his progress.
...
After returning to Wuqi Mountain, Lan Chang'an ensured that the quasi-third-rank mountain-protecting formation was operating stably.
Going forward, he focused part of his efforts on advancing the "Cloud Sand Body Refinent Manual" and practicing with puppets.
"Third-rank spirit sand really lives up to its reputation..."
In the secret room of Little Turtle Peak, Lan Chang'an soaked in a dicinal bath mixed with various colors of spirit sand, his muscles swelling as crystalline patterns resembling cloud-like stones appeared on the surface of his skin.
A tingling, burning sensation spread across his body.
Using third-rank spirit sand for the first ti in his cultivation, Lan Chang'an finally felt a slow but steady improvent in the "Cloud Sand Body Refinent Manual," which had been stagnant for years.
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