Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 312 - 188: Where Great People and Spirits Thrive (Part 2)
Seeing this scene, the Tribulation Cultivator was not frightened but delighted. Being able to abandon his Tier Two Spirit Pet implied how deeply poisoned the opponent was.
"Since you, sir, leave me no way out, let’s die together then!"
With a roar, Lin Chang’an emitted a bloody aura, and even his Sword Aura turned blood-red, which made the Tribulation Cultivator nervous, causing him to hurriedly summon a Shield Spiritual Artifact for defense.
The terrifying Sword Aura exploded with tremendous offensive power, making the Tribulation Cultivator’s situation somewhat embarrassing in the battle, yet he couldn’t hide the joy on his face.
Such powerful attacks were enjoyable; this was indeed a life-and-death sword cultivator.
Every streak of Sword Aura was three times stronger than the attacks of him, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
But he could also tell that the opponent was poisoned and couldn’t sustain this Sword Aura for long.
"Arrogant! Today, I’ll let you witness the might of a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator!"
However, before he finished speaking, a cold light suddenly appeared behind him, along with an angry moo from a bull.
"Not good!"
Panic-stricken, the man quickly turned to defend. It was Old Hu, lurking like a mantis stalking a cicada, ready to ambush.
"There’s a helper too!"
The Tribulation Cultivator’s expression changed dramatically, but Old Hu’s fierce attack knocked his Defense Shield flying, revealing the sight of a Cyan-Horned Bull with blood-red eyes.
Moo!
With a crazed crashing sound, he was instantly knocked away.
The brute force of a Tier Two Middle Stage Cyan-Horned Bull was terrifying, even regular Tier Two Late Stage Demon Beasts couldn’t withstand such a full-force strike.
Nonetheless, the Tribulation Cultivator was ruthless as well. In the moment of being knocked away, he used the force to break through towards Lin Chang’an.
"Go for broke!"
He roared, realizing that his risky decision today had led him to encounter real bandits.
This was clearly a setup, orchestrated by a group of Tribulation Cultivators.
In an instant, Talismans clashed, and Lin Chang’an’s Tier Two Upper Grade Thunder Shock Talisman unleashed bolts of shocking lightning.
Yet the more recklessly Lin Chang’an used the Talismans, the more it revealed to him that the breakthrough was here.
The opponent was already poisoned.
"Die!"
In the midst of the clash, the Tribulation Cultivator’s eyes gleamed with ruthlessness, and a green light suddenly emerged from his sleeve.
A green venomous serpent Spirit Pet, he actually had two of them. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚
However, Lin Chang’an’s eyes flashed coldly, and with his sword, he directly blocked the venomous serpent while the opponent’s trident was already aiming for his face.
Just when the opponent was exhilarated, he suddenly saw a streak of blood light radiating from Lin Chang’an’s fingertips.
Not good!
[Blood Spirit Spike]
The Flying Needle Hidden Weapon, rarely used since Foundation Establishment, appeared once more.
At such close range, although the opponent desperately dodged, the protective Spiritual Light was still instantly pierced through. But it was indeed a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Though in haste, he narrowly dodged, his ear was directly pierced through.
However, at that moment, a cyan sword aura pierced through his chest from behind.
"How... How is this possible?"
The opponent found it unbelievable, given that Lin Chang’an was still battling his Spirit Pet.
[Divine Technique: Sword Shadow Following Heart]
Under Lin Chang’an’s cold gaze, the immensely powerful Sword Aura, akin to a compact Giant Sword Technique, appeared behind the opponent, piercing through his armor.
"A Sword Cultivator... How can he be so powerful..."
One must understand he was wearing armor, yet this Tribulation Cultivator gazed with resentment and unwillingness at his opponent.
This streak of Sword Aura possessed attack power beyond what a Foundation Establishment Cultivator could produce.
It pierced through his armor and Mana Shield so easily.
However, unbeknownst to him, the refined Sword Shadow from Lin Chang’an was comparable to a small Talisman Treasure.
After landing the hit, Lin Chang’an quickly retreated, the Sword Aura sweeping around, showing no signs of poisoning as he quickly slew the venomous serpent and directed the Flying Needle straight at the opponent’s vital points.
"Pfft!"
Blood blossomed as the Flying Needle traversed the opponent’s vital areas incessantly.
In a blink of an eye, he lost all signs of life.
The battle from start to finish was rapid, lacking the legendary three days and nights of epic combat.
"Old Lin, how did you get targeted by a Tribulation Cultivator as soon as you stepped out?"
Old Hu exclaimed, yet just then, Lin Chang’an’s expression changed, exclaiming in disbelief, "Old Hu, you speak of me, yet you’re also being watched. Let’s go."
Raising his hand to collect the spoils of war, Lin Chang’an left the opponent’s corpse behind.
He had thought of probing the opponent’s memory, but one could never be sure if it bore a tracking mark.
With a Fire Bomb Technique, he collected the armor and departed hastily.
Moments after Lin Chang’an and Old Hu left, two cultivators appeared hastily.
One of them exclaimed fearfully:
"Old Miao’s corpse is gone!"
"The battle traces are swift; one was a Sword Cultivator, and to slay Old Miao, a Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so swiftly, the cultivation must be at Foundation Establishment Perfection."
"It might just be Tribulation Cultivators laying bait for us cultivators, damn it!"
They made a quick decision to flee immediately, also grabbing the corpse of the venomous serpent they found along the way.
Initially, while following behind, Old Hu didn’t eliminate the venomous serpent, fearing the death of the Spirit Pet would alert the opponent.
He merely knocked the serpent away and pursued with the Cyan-Horned Bull.
Unexpectedly, two latecomer Tribulation Cultivators gained the advantage.
...
The two of them returned all the way back to the Market.
This incident made them realize that this was the norm in the Demon Beast Abyss.
With numerous Tribulation Cultivators and cruel cultivators from all lands seeking fortune here, few have pure intentions.
It could be said that the Demon Beast Abyss breeds no idlers, making it a land of talent and spirit.
"Old Lin, would you say we’re doing the work of Tribulation Cultivators?"
Watching Old Hu’s joking expression, Lin Chang’an was speechless.
But after inspecting the spoils of war, "Whoa!"
Old Hu’s eyes brightened, exclaiming, "Old Lin, no wonder so many impulsively choose to be Tribulation Cultivators; the gain is too quick."
The storage bag of this cultivator contained only a few Spirit Stones, but quite a variety of resources.
It was evidently just recently filled, intending to trade for various materials.
Subsequently, the two of them divided the resources.
Lin Chang’an ended up with the Tier Two venomous serpent.
"Is this intelligence from the Wind Spirit Kingdom?"
In the opponent’s Storage Bag, they found lineage information of his homeland.
Clearly, despite being away for years, he occasionally gathered intelligence from home.
But it left no detailed information, giving no clue of his family’s location.
Perhaps he still feared vengeance.
"Ah, everyone comes here seeking fortune, yet how many truly succeed?"
Old Hu couldn’t help but shake his head. The Late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator they had just assessed seemed not young anymore.
This left Old Hu, fresh to the land, with a mix of feelings.
Perhaps if they spent years here and reached that stage, they might become similar to the Tribulation Cultivator.
Reluctant to advance, unwilling to return, the only option being to risk it all, becoming a Tribulation Cultivator to amass quicker wealth, a slim chance as it might be.
"Old Hu, unexpectedly, you’re quite the introspective one."
Lin Chang’an teased, feeling much the same complexity internally.
The opponent’s family might still be waiting for his return.
But what did that concern him?
If today he were the one dead, no one would mourn for him.
"Old Lin, you’re cold; I was just building the mood."
Old Hu instantly waved away the sentiment, both being determined cultivators, only expressing temporary emotions.
"Let’s continue on. We should also be mindful of our other three companions."
Thereafter, Lin Chang’an and Old Hu met with the remaining three Foundation Establishment cultivators at the designated point.
The five of them then made their way towards the inhabited island while secretly on guard.
Despite just arriving, reducing the chance for internal strife, cultivators who’ve tread this far in the Immortal Cultivation Realm never easily trust others.
Like Lin Chang’an and Old Hu, knowing each other for decades, their initial trust only developed after a Secret Realm expedition.
Even then, they tacitly agreed never to pry into each other’s secrets.
Such as Old Hu’s Cultivation Technique and inherited items,
while equally sparing inquiries into Lin Chang’an’s Sword Aura Divine Techniques and its sharp offensive power.
Days later, the five arrived safely on the settled island.
After all, with five Middle and Late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators joining forces on the journey, few Tribulation Cultivators would be so bold.
