Chapter 336 - 229: Youth-Retaining Trade, Treasure Talismans Obtained

Chapter 336: Chapter 229: Youth-Retaining Trade, Treasure Talismans Obtained

"And so I settled down here. I tend to it a little in my spare time, and over the long years, it has slowly taken its current shape. To receive a compliment like ’a fine land’ from a Fellow Daoist means my years of hard work haven’t been in vain."

Hearing these words, surprise flashed in Lin Changheng’s eyes. This He Yunshu really wasn’t putting on the airs of a senior like before; she was truly treating him as an equal.

’Could her attitude change so smoothly?’

’Or was it that the strength and Skills he had displayed had earned her recognition?’

"I am truly envious. When will I ever be able to obtain a Spiritual Land like Mr. He?"

Hearing Lin Changheng’s words, He Yunshu immediately smiled. "If Mr. Lin likes it, I do have a proposal. After all, there are five peaks here, each a Dao Field. If a Fellow Daoist were to move out in the future, leaving their Dao Field and cave residence vacant, I could inform you to come and bid for the lease."

"That way, wouldn’t your wish be fulfilled?"

"Oh?"

A glint flashed in Lin Changheng’s eyes, and he immediately smiled. "That would be wonderful, of course. In that case, I’ll have to ask you to keep an eye out for me then."

As they spoke, they reached the edge of the Array. He Yunshu stopped and smiled. "I will see you this far. The mountains are high and the waters long; I hope we’ll have another chance to discuss the Dao with Mr. Lin in the future."

Lin Changheng clasped his hands in return. "Thank you for your hospitality today. When I have time in the future, I will surely visit again. Farewell."

With that, he turned, rode his Escape Light into the air, and transformed into a streak of cyan light, disappearing over the horizon.

He Yunshu stood in place, watching him depart until the Escape Light completely vanished. Only then did she turn and re-enter the lush greenery, the Array outside the peak slowly closing once more, sealing it off again.

...

Standing on his Dharma Ship and once again speeding north, Lin Changheng had a thoughtful look in his eyes.

Spiritual Dao Fields like this weren’t actually that rare. With enough Spirit Stones and financial resources, one could eventually find one.

Therefore, Lin Changheng didn’t take what the woman had just said to heart.

But since she had made the offer out of kindness, Lin Changheng naturally wasn’t foolish enough to reject it.

In reality, it was possible that He Yunshu was just being polite.

What was more on his mind were the Treasure Talismans.

...

Time passed, and soon it was evening. The sky grew dark.

Lin Changheng didn’t continue his journey. Instead, he found a mountain hollow and landed directly.

His Cyan Gold Flying Sword danced, sending earth and stone flying. Soon, it had carved out a sizable cave. Lin Changheng set up an Array and went inside to rest.

Then, he took out five Genuine Treasure Talismans that shone with a brilliant cyan light.

He held them in his palm, examining them one by one.

Now that his Deep Lake Spirit Clam Treasure Seed had completed Spirit Stealing up to the Second Layer, he had refined the Nourishing Spirit Anomaly Technique: Spiritual.

He could now simultaneously nourish two wondrous items, or two Treasure Talismans.

In total, he had five Genuine Treasure Talismans and one Half-finished Treasure Talisman that was innately flawed.

Six in total.

He couldn’t nourish all of them.

’Xiaobai can help nourish two of them, but that still leaves two more...’

Lin Changheng knew this was the situation, but he couldn’t rush it.

He could only wait for Xiaobai to slowly offer its blood so he could continue to deepen his Spirit Stealing.

’A few years late is a few years late. Having four nourished Treasure Talismans should be enough for now.’

Lin Changheng made up his mind not to rapidly draw blood for Spirit Stealing. That would be killing the goose that lays the golden eggs, and he would lose a major Tier Two combatant.

The losses would outweigh the gains.

With a thought, he activated the Nourishing Spirit Anomaly Technique: Spiritual. A cluster of even deeper, azure radiance immediately projected forth.

It was like smoke or mist—formless and intangible, yet truly real.

It spat out the Half-finished Treasure Talisman that had been nourished for nearly eight years.

Its power had clearly been enhanced, making it far stronger than before.

Then, it fell upon two of the Genuine Treasure Talismans that were shining with a brilliant cyan light.

WHOOSH!

The radiance flew back, carrying the two Treasure Talismans with it. They flew directly toward him, shrinking continuously until they were drawn into his mouth.

They returned to his Dantian, settled into a corner, and began to bob gently.

The Treasure Talismans seemed to lose their physical form, assimilated by the azure radiance.

As far as Lin Changheng was concerned, the value of nourishing a Half-finished Treasure Talisman was certainly no match for that of a Genuine Treasure Talisman. Its potential was also lower, so he naturally had to prioritize the latter.

He understood this point perfectly.

Next, he slapped his Spirit Beast Bag, and a huge clam-like creature appeared. It was the size of a large stone roller, with a bluish-black shell.

’Xiaobai, nourish these for me.’

Lin Changheng didn’t even have to speak. With a single thought, the creature understood. It opened its shell, sucked the two Genuine Treasure Talismans inside, and a dim blue light appeared as it began to nourish them.

This mutual sensing and direct communication through thought was clearly a sign of a higher-level Spirit Pet Contract, no longer reliant on a Beast Taming Token.

Currently, all three of Lin Changheng’s Spirit Beasts—the Black Armored Earth Turtle, the Deep Lake Spirit Clam, and the Cyan-striped Cub Tiger—were bound to him by a Spirit Pet Contract.

The first two had willingly formed the Spirit Pet Contract with Lin Changheng and had already passed the transitional phase of using the Beast Taming Token.

As for the Cyan-striped Cub Tiger, after being given a Forget Dust Pill, it had forgotten everything and, after a period of bonding, had also willingly formed the contract.

It was worth noting that Lin Changheng only kept the two Tier Two Spiritual Beasts, the Black Armored Earth Turtle and the Deep Lake Spirit Clam, with him. The Cyan-striped Cub Tiger, still in its growth phase and not yet useful, was left at home to accompany Yan Mingyi.

...

Because of attending the Treasure Exchange Meeting, breaking through in his Body Refining, and other matters, he had set out much later than planned.

Therefore, Lin Changheng didn’t have time to return to the Xu Family first as originally planned. Instead, he followed the information the Xu Family provided and headed directly for the Secret Realm’s location.

This Secret Realm was located northeast of Purple Extreme Mountain, while the Black Water River Xu Family, Cyan Spirit District, and others were in the northwest corner, in a different direction and a fair distance away.

After several months of continuous flight, he was naturally exhausted; not even Lin Changheng’s physique could prevent it.

But according to the map, Lin Changheng knew the destination was near and he would arrive in a few days.

Moreover, this area was different from the mountainous and hilly region he had stayed in for so long. He could clearly see far more rivers and lakes.

It had the feel of a wetland country.

Rivers crisscrossed the land, converging and diverging, creating a dense network of waterways across the landscape.

In fact, the entrance to the Jiazi Secret Realm was located within one of these rivers.

Lin Changheng had also looked up information and found that the source of these rivers was in the Yue Country in the Northern Border.

That place was a true Wetland Country, and its influence radiated outward, affecting a few areas of the Purple Extreme Sect and most of the adjacent Major Sect, the Profound Ice Valley.

However, the rivers in the Purple Extreme Sect’s territory only flowed for a short distance before turning to converge with those in the Profound Ice Valley region, leaving only a few to continue on their original course.

In such a watery land, the Water Element Spiritual Power in the air was more abundant and concentrated. This was a significant boost for Water Cultivators and placed a certain suppression on the use of Fire Techniques.

However, it wasn’t a fundamental problem and could be overcome.

This was a point Lin Changheng had carefully confirmed.

...

As he drew closer, flying high in the sky, Lin Changheng noticed all sorts of Magical Artifact boats and ships speeding across the surfaces of the rivers and lakes below.

They were of styles he had almost never seen before.

The merchant caravans also mostly used large ships to transport goods via waterways, rather than using pack-horse carts on land routes as the Xu Family had.

They were clearly adapting to the local geography.

...

’I’ve arrived.’

He was over a river so vast it could be called boundless.

Its sparkling surface was nearly a hundred li wide.

Lin Changheng, high in the air, compared it to his map. He was quite surprised at a glance; he would have believed it if someone told him it was an ocean.

The river’s surface was wide, the current was swift and powerful, and the water and sky seemed to merge into one.

West Shore Cyan Mountain’s steep slopes were reflected in the water, only to be shattered again and again by the rolling river!

Near West Shore Cyan Mountain, there were many figures of Cultivators.

They occupied hilltops or spots along the bank. Most were meditating on their own, with very few interacting with each other.

But the auras they exuded were distinct—all of them were at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

Lin Changheng guessed that they were likely all Cultivators from the various Foundation Establishment Clans who had come to explore the Secret Realm.

Of course, there might also be Cultivators sent by Commerce Associations or other Influences with the same idea as him: to purchase items produced within the Secret Realm after it closes, either for their own use or to act as middlemen.