bookpower Chapter 324: Sincere Transaction
Chapter 324: Sincere Transaction
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After advancing to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm, Lan Chang'an’s cultivation had slowed significantly in the mid-grade third-rank spiritual vein he was residing in.
The days of leisurely cultivation in the Xuan Yin Pavilion were numbered.
Before returning to the Righteous Dao Alliance, Lan Chang'an had a few loose ends to tie up in Fengyuan Kingdom.
Early this morning.
Over the pool outside the cave-dwelling, a large turtle floated peacefully. Sitting atop its broad back were a man and a woman.
"From today onward, I will impart to you a complete inheritance of talisman techniques," Lan Chang'an said.
Unlike his usual demeanor, he adopted the persona of "Mister Xu" today, clad in pristine white robes that exuded a sense of calm refinement. His warm and handsome features were paired with an air of serene detachment.
Yun Ling, dressed in a green dress, her starry eyes bright and her smile radiant, now carried a more mature and enchanting charm amidst her usual gentle elegance.
"Thank you for your generosity, Mister Xu."
She listened intently, her gaze fixed on the white-robed man before her. Beyond the familiarity she felt for him, there now arose a deeper sense of admiration and affection she could not suppress.
Lan Chang'an subtly noticed the complex emotions in Yun Ling’s gaze.
Years of guidance and careful cultivation had not only drawn out Yun Ling’s latent talents but also helped her hone her extraordinary potential. However, the mystery of the womb remained unresolved.@@@@
It seemed that awakening her past life's memories was no simple feat, something that would require extraordinary circumstances—most likely tied to her reincarnation’s prior cultivation level.
Yun Ling’s past life had not even reached the Foundation Establishment realm.
This attempt to explore the mysteries of reincarnation was simply an experiment to Lan Chang'an, one where the outcome mattered little.
"That will be all for today. Take this jade slip," he said, handing over a jade slip that contained a simplified version of third-rank talisman techniques—an inheritance he had painstakingly refined over two lifetimes.
Although simplified, the techniques were tailored to Yun Ling’s strengths, leveraging her dexterous skills and meticulous nature. Moreover, this inheritance carefully avoided exposing any traces of Lan Chang'an’s personal talisman style.
Receiving the jade slip, Yun Ling rose from the turtle’s back and bowed deeply in gratitude.
"I’ve heard that your elder brother is preparing to form his Core?"
"Yes, Brother Hao has already reached the ninth level of the Foundation Establishment realm," Yun Ling replied with a nod.
Even she had reached the eighth level of the Foundation Establishment realm two years ago, thanks to improvements in her innate constitution and Lan Chang'an’s expert guidance. Her cultivation speed was now on par with those possessing high-grade spiritual roots. ꞦαNО฿Ès
As a second-rank superior-grade talisman master, Yun Ling had already achieved self-sufficiency, earning a stable income of spiritual stones.
"In the near future, I, Xu, will leave Fengyuan Kingdom for some time to handle personal matters. I won’t be able to bring you along. Before I leave, if you have any requests or wishes, feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to fulfill them," Lan Chang'an said, offering her a rare, formal promise.
"May I have some time to think it over?" Yun Ling asked softly, her rosy lips pursed as her starry eyes flickered with emotion.
She heard the underlying meaning in his words but refrained from pressing further. Instead, she quietly requested time to consider.
For decades, Yun Ling had benefited greatly from the comfortable cultivation environment of Xuan Yin Pavilion and Lan Chang'an’s care.
As a maidservant, she had served him faithfully for many years. Not only did Mister Xu owe her nothing, but he had also gone above and beyond to nurture her talents.
To most cultivators, this period of their life would be seen as a rare opportunity and blessing.
Yun Ling dared not ask for more and knew that Mister Xu’s decision couldn't be changed.
...
The following year.
Over the next year, Lan Chang'an frequently guided Yun Ling in her cultivation. Occasionally, he would enjoy tea, listen to music, or watch the ethereal dances of the Fairy Ni Yue at night.
To outsiders, it appeared as though Lan Chang'an was living a leisurely life, seldom leaving the Xuan Yin Pavilion. Even his breakthrough to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm was kept hidden from the public.
However, behind the scenes, Lan Chang'an was steadily refining his divination skills.
Through the use of puppet clones, he discreetly ventured out to purchase materials and gather information.
It was through one such puppet clone that he once again negotiated with the Puppet-Arm ancient city lord from the Gutian Immortal City.
The last time they spoke, the Puppet-Arm city lord had made outrageous demands, suggesting there was still room for negotiation.
Although top-tier puppet techniques were exceedingly rare, they were not entirely irreplaceable resources.
"Fourth-rank Soul-Nurturing Wood? Why does the Puppet-Arm city lord insist on obtaining this item? What is he planning?"
After two rounds of negotiations, the emotionless and reserved Puppet-Arm city lord had adjusted his demands, abandoning unrealistic requests for something like an Infant Transformation Pill. His current offer seemed slightly more reasonable.
However, Soul-Nurturing Wood, or treasures of a similar nature related to the soul, were indispensable for puppet refinement.
Additionally, the Puppet-Arm city lord was adamant about acquiring the "Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique," refusing to budge on this demand.
"The Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique? Even I don’t have it," Lan Chang'an muttered with a sigh.
The Puppet-Arm city lord had mistakenly assumed that Lan Chang'an’s puppet clones, which were imbued with complete soul power, were the result of the Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique.
This technique was a mysterious puppet refinement method that could grant puppets intelligence and awareness, cultivating "puppet spirits" capable of wielding many spells commonly used by human cultivators. Some techniques even mimicked soul-based abilities.
The Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique not only enhanced a puppet’s overall strength but also facilitated the crafting of genuine fourth-rank puppets.
Even within the Thousand Mechanisms Sect, most of their fourth-rank puppets were weaker than Nascent Soul cultivators of the same rank.
The primary reason for this disparity lay in the soul aspect.
The "puppet spirit" of a fourth-rank puppet was naturally inferior to the Nascent Soul of a human cultivator, making it difficult to elevate the puppet to the same level.
However, the Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique could expedite the formation of a puppet spirit, significantly reducing the time needed to cultivate one.
Rumor had it that the Thousand Mechanisms Sect’s version of the technique was incomplete and far from mature. Moreover, only core elders were granted access to study it.
Lan Chang'an, unfazed, continued to negotiate with the Puppet-Arm city lord, carefully haggling over the terms.
He denied that the Azure Dragon Society possessed the Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique, instead attributing his methods to an alternative means of cultivating puppet spirits.
In truth, Lan Chang'an’s puppet clones were unique—infused with his past life’s soul essence, they functioned as a peculiar form of puppet spirit.
However, this puppet spirit was like a blank slate. It contained only soul power and combat instincts from his past life, but no independent consciousness.
Or rather, any consciousness it had belonged to Lan Chang'an himself in his current life.
"Could it be that the Puppet-Arm city lord of Gutian Immortal City harbors ambitions of refining a fourth-rank puppet?"
A thought crossed Lan Chang'an’s mind.
After performing a divination, he confirmed this suspicion—it was highly likely.
"Soul-Nurturing Wood... Soul-Infusion Puppet Technique... aiming for a fourth-rank puppet, are they?"
Understanding the Puppet-Arm city lord’s ambitions, Lan Chang'an gained the upper hand in these negotiations.
...
Unconsciously, a year and a half had passed since Lan Chang'an advanced to the late stage of the Core Formation Realm.
On this day, Granny Yun arrived at the Xuan Yin Pavilion to pay a visit to Lan Chang'an.
Initially, due to the potential dangers involved, she had refrained from visiting the Xuan Yin Pavilion, not wanting to implicate Yun Ling or Mister Xu. This marked her first time stepping into his domain.
This visit was prompted by a message from Yun Ling herself.
Faced with Mister Xu’s promise, Yun Ling had no authority to make a decision on her own. Out of filial respect, she left the choice to her foster grandmother.
Within the cave-dwelling, Lan Chang'an received Granny Yun alone.
"We are deeply grateful for the care Mister Xu has shown to our family and for the guidance you’ve given Ling’er," Granny Yun said.
Her head of silver hair seemed even whiter, and her figure more frail than before. After bowing respectfully, she leaned on her cane and took a seat.
Lan Chang'an observed that Granny Yun’s remaining lifespan was less than a hundred years.
Years ago, she had suffered severe injuries from the traitor, damaging her foundation. The resulting hidden afflictions had prematurely sapped her vitality.
"Mister Xu’s promise is not something an old woman like me should meddle in. However, with Yun Hao and Yun Ling both approaching the critical juncture of forming their Cores, I must shamelessly request Mister Xu’s aid in refining Crystal Condensation Pills."
Granny Yun wasted no time with pleasantries and went straight to the point.
Lan Chang'an quickly understood the situation. Granny Yun had gathered most of the materials required for the Crystal Condensation Pills but was still missing some ingredients. Moreover, she had been unable to find a reliable third-rank alchemist.
Fortunately, Master Lihuo had left behind a legacy for their lineage.
The primary ingredient for the Crystal Condensation Pills—the Seven-Heart Mystic Moonflower—had finally matured after years of cultivation in Granny Yun’s possession.
"This is not a difficult matter," Lan Chang'an said calmly, agreeing without hesitation.
"It is indeed crafted from fourth-rank Soul-Nurturing Wood," the green-armored man’s puppet spirit, imbued with ghostly energy, conveyed its excitement and approval to the Puppet-Arm City Lord.
The wooden bracelet was one of two Soul-Nurturing Bracelets Lan Chang'an had refined over the years. To make it suitable for this trade, he had altered its appearance and added additional materials, completely disguising its origins.
Even its original creator, Zhang Tieshan, would struggle to recognize it without a meticulous inspection.
Next, they inspected the second-rank puppet.
"This puppet also possesses a complete soul, though its soul power is weak—merely at the peak of the Qi-Refining stage," they concluded after confirming its authenticity.
As for the pouch of spiritual stones, it was merely an add-on and held little importance to them.
"Are you satisfied?" the wandering merchant asked, his eyes narrowing slightly as his spiritual sense briefly scanned the contents of the two jade slips.
The jade slips contained puppet techniques, including puppet formations and methods for cultivating puppet spirits.
The restrictions on the jade slips prevented them from being copied, allowing only for direct reading.
From his hidden vantage point, Lan Chang'an used his extensive knowledge to verify that the inheritance was genuine and confirmed this with divination.
He noted that the Mysterious Mechanism Tower had held back some of their top secrets, which was only to be expected.
Lan Chang'an, however, had also played a trick of his own.
The soul power within the second-rank puppet originated from his first life and would collapse within two days. He could even remotely detonate the puppet if necessary.
Such a short time frame ensured that the Mysterious Mechanism Tower would be unable to glean any meaningful insights from it.
"Good!"
The Puppet-Arm City Lord nodded in agreement, and the trade was finalized.
Both parties exchanged their items, ensuring they were received simultaneously.
"If there’s nothing else, this poor Daoist will be leaving first," the wandering merchant said, storing the two jade slips and withdrawing his eight archer puppets. He then flew out of the illusion array without hesitation.
After the merchant left the illusion array, the green-armored man opened his eyes. Within their hollow sockets burned eerie, ghostly green flames.
"It's worthy of being a precious spiritual wood in the cultivation world. It not only nourishes the soul but can also be used to craft powerful soul-related treasures capable of countering ghost-type entities," he said, fiddling with the wooden bracelet.
The Puppet-Arm City Lord’s usually wooden expression broke into one of fervent excitement.
"Congratulations, Tower Lord! With this item, your consciousness will be sustained for much longer. Together, we can refine a true fourth-rank puppet, freeing the Mysterious Mechanism Tower from the shadow of that old monster!"
The two fanatics, wholly devoted to their craft, failed to notice the faint glimmer of an unusual light in the eyes of the second-rank puppet they had just acquired.
...
"A puppet spirit formed from a ghostly Dao living soul that retains its intelligence and consciousness? Interesting..."
Hundreds of li away, Lan Chang'an observed the scene and heard the conversation between the Puppet-Arm City Lord and the green-armored man through the second-rank puppet possessed by his first life’s soul essence.
"Creating a true fourth-rank puppet? Quite the bold claim!"
"However, the materials used for that quasi-fourth-rank puppet are almost at the Nascent Soul level. I suppose it’s not entirely exaggerated," Lan Chang'an muttered to himself, a hint of greed flashing in his eyes as he evaluated the puppet’s materials.
"Forget it! It's just a sincere deal!"
After some thought, Lan Chang'an decided to let go of the idea.
The Puppet-Arm City Lord and the quasi-fourth-rank puppet together formed an extremely formidable lineup.
Even without considering the quasi-fourth-rank puppet, the Puppet-Arm City Lord alone was nearly as strong as the Peacock Saintess and possessed a Blue Jiao Puppet capable of rivaling the peak of the late Core Formation stage. On top of that, there was also the puppet army formation that specialized in defensive warfare.
The quasi-fourth-rank puppet was even more powerful. To suppress it, Lan Chang'an would likely need to bring forth his fourth life’s full potential.
Moreover, being so close to Gutian Immortal City, Lan Chang'an lacked the necessary advantages of timing and terrain.
He had his puppet clones withdraw, as well as the Earth Burrowing Rat that had been keeping watch underground.
At that moment, the second-rank puppet that had been left with the Mysterious Mechanism Tower transmitted another scene and dialogue to Lan Chang'an.
"Tower Lord! What are you... Didn’t we agree to an honest transaction? That Azure Dragon Society’s origins are unfathomable and difficult to gauge!"
The Puppet-Arm City Lord’s face darkened as he voiced his concern.
The green-armored man, his fingernails shrouded in a dark, murky green ghostly energy, extended a finger that seemed to dissolve into the void, pointing in a specific direction.
"Why the panic?" the green-armored man snapped, his gaze cold and voice filled with dissatisfaction.
"This is a ghostly Dao tracking technique of mine. I merely tampered with those two jade slips, leaving a faint ghostly trace on them. In the territory of Great Qing human realm, where ghostly Dao inheritance is almost nonexistent, no one below the Nascent Soul stage will notice the anomaly.
"If the trader later detects the trace and removes it, then so be it. It shows that they are strong and we acted with sincerity in the deal.
"Jie jie, but if they fail to notice... it will prove that this so-called Azure Dragon Society is nothing more than a facade, a trick to deceive us."
The green-armored man’s face twisted into a sinister, chilling grin, his demeanor becoming increasingly unsettling.
"Tower Lord! Your consciousness has been affected by the ghostly Dao’s power. You must enter dormancy immediately!"
While the green-armored man’s reasoning was sound to some extent, the Puppet-Arm City Lord instinctively felt that something was amiss.
What concerned him most was the green-armored man’s unstable state of mind.
Ever since his transformation into a ghostly Dao entity, the green-armored man had become far more prone to negative emotions. This instability was one of the reasons he kept himself sealed and dormant for extended periods.
"I will make the final decision!" the green-armored man roared, his voice laced with fury.
He raised his arms, and a violent gust of ghostly green iron wind swept out, shrouded in ominous ghostly energy, engulfing several li around him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The Puppet-Arm City Lord and his four third-rank puppet giants were sent flying. Two of the puppets were torn apart, shattering into pieces on the spot.
"Tower Lord!"
The Puppet-Arm City Lord struggled to stabilize himself, but the green-armored man’s figure blurred and disappeared from sight in an instant.
He attempted to cast a spell to intercept him, but it was too late. The green-armored man had already flown beyond his range of influence.
"That soul Dao artifact alone is far from enough to make this old man the ghostly spirit of a fourth-rank puppet. That trader must possess the opportunity I need!"
The ghostly flames in the green-armored man’s eye sockets burned brightly as he shot into the sky like a streak of light.
Now a ghostly Dao entity, he trusted his instincts—he was convinced that the Azure Dragon Society was most likely a sham.
If the trader truly had overwhelming strength, why would they need to be so patient, haggling over prices and trading with them in good faith?
...
Meanwhile, deep in the desert, Lan Chang'an had flown tens of thousands of li away.
The region around Fengyuan Kingdom was 99% barren wasteland, a desolate land devoid of people. The harsh environment meant that spiritual oases and veins were as rare as finding gold in the sand.
"Hm? They really dare to pursue me this far?"
Lan Chang'an halted his light escape technique and turned to look in the direction he had come from.
The two jade slips in his possession were indeed tainted with faint traces of ghostly energy.
Even without the intelligence provided by the second-rank puppet, Lan Chang'an would have inspected the jade slips carefully once they were in his hands.
Back near Gutian Immortal City, lacking the right timing and terrain, Lan Chang'an had chosen not to engage.
He wasn’t afraid of a single unstable quasi-fourth-rank puppet.
Instead of removing the ghostly energy from the jade slips, he deliberately left it intact, testing whether the other party would truly dare to pursue him alone.
To his surprise, the green-armored puppet spirit, driven by obsession, had indeed followed him for tens of thousands of li.
"This Lan Chang'an came with sincere intentions to trade. Since you’ve harbored malicious intent, don’t blame me for being ruthless!"
Lan Chang'an snorted coldly, suppressing his presence as he swiftly prepared a setup in the area.
Finally, he handed the two jade slips with ghostly traces to the third-rank late-stage puppet dressed as the wandering merchant, placing it in a sandpit to sit in meditation.
A few moments later.
Rumble!
A terrifying spiritual pressure accompanied by surging clouds of ghostly energy swept across the desert like a tidal wave.
The oppressive aura was close to that of the fourth-rank Demon King that had once protected the Peacock Saintess!