Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 55: Demon Beast Attack

Three days later, Lin Chang’an attended the exchange meeting with only about twenty people, exchanging some materials and the latest news.

"I exchanged for some various types of upper-grade Tier One talismans, but more importantly, for the information exchanged among us."

After leaving the exchange meeting, Lin Chang’an disguised himself on the way to the market, plotting secretly.

Right now, there are Tier Two spiritual brushes, talisman paper, and cinnabar, but they’re all gold attribute.

"I can only draw Golden Light Talismans with gold attribute, not because the Golden Bamboo Spirit Brush can’t paint fire attribute talismans, but because an attribute-based spirit brush is more targeted."

Walking down the market street, Lin Chang’an sighed inwardly; this is the helplessness of a loose cultivator, where everything must be earned through one’s own efforts.

If he had the backing of a major sect or family, his studies in talismans would not be so scattered.

"Let’s first buy a few pieces of fire attribute talisman paper and cinnabar, as for the spiritual brush, that can wait."

Normally undistressed for spirit stones during his cultivation, at this moment, Lin Chang’an finally experienced those four words he hadn’t felt in a long time.

Financial embarrassment.

After all, the spirit stones he earned were all spent on cultivation, and with his recent purchases, the spirit stones in his storage bag were nearly depleted.

[Golden Light Talisman (Grandmaster 4238/5000)]

[Fire Bomb Talisman (Grandmaster 4678/5000)]

Looking at the attribute panel, Lin Chang’an nodded silently, pressing on to improve his talisman skills, to sooner draw a high-quality Tier One talisman for assurance.

After disguising himself several more times, Lin Chang’an collected nine pieces of Tier Two fire attribute talisman paper in the market, along with two bottles of precious fire attribute cinnabar, before deciding to return.

...

The chaos continued, however, the secret realm had already been sealed off by the sect’s cultivators. It was heard that in the battle over the secret realm, Golden Core elders from the two major sects had fought fiercely.

The Divine Sword Sect was also growing impatient, as the secret realm was in the rear of the two major sects, forcing them to initiate war efforts.

The situation in the Yue Kingdom was growing increasingly chaotic.

A month later.

"Sister Yun has returned."

On this day, finally, there was some good news.

Yun Yao returned to the market, as one of the stewards of the Li Huo Palace in the market.

"Mr. Yun."

Lin Chang’an maintained a calm expression, bowing respectfully, and Shen Lie also followed suit.

Their previous rift seemed as though it never happened.

"Hmm."

Yun Yao glanced at everyone, merely nodding coldly.

Yet at this close distance, Lin Chang’an felt a sense of vigilance; he could clearly sense that the cold aura within Yun Yao was even more intense than before.

This time, Yun Yao returned with a more murderous air, suggesting the fierce battles within the secret realm.

"Before the sect and Profound Sound Pavilion reach any agreements, the market is preparing to divide territories; the sect intends to designate some areas as safe zones..."

As Yun Yao’s chilly voice echoed, Lin Chang’an felt silently resigned; this was clearly just a re-division of territories, which inevitably would lead to higher rents.

To reside under the rule of Li Huo Palace, naturally, you must abide by their rules, and pay the corresponding rent for the sect’s protection.

"In other words, most of the market will be in chaos."

After coldly explaining this, Yun Yao left.

To say truly indifferent and emotionless, she wouldn’t have come in person to inform them.

Yet her visit made them feel Yun Yao was deliberately distancing herself.

...

Snow began to fall heavily from the sky.

Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market seemed to have returned to its former stability, though everyone knew it was now more chaotic.

A single market now held two voices!

"Master Lin, rent is paid quarterly, this area is under the rule of Li Huo Palace, ensuring your safety."

"Understood, several of us are sharing this courtyard, here are the spirit stones."

Inside a small courtyard, Lin Chang’an, the couple Shen Lie, as well as Wei Buyi and his daughter, shared the rental of a courtyard.

It wasn’t just to save on spirit stones; more importantly, it was to unite for warmth, deterring those with ill intentions.

"Just for this courtyard, ten spirit stones for three months, might as well rob us," Wei Buyi vented, his face flushing red after handing over the spirit stones.

Hearing these words, Lin Chang’an gently shook his head and said, "It’s not bad; if it were ten years ago, we might have had to go to the outer area."

The outer area was cheaper, but the patrols were made up of several mid-stage Qi Refining cultivators from Li Huo Palace, each gathering a group of a dozen loose cultivators to form patrol teams.

The level of safety was evident.

You get what you pay for.

"It seems the situation is very chaotic now."

Looking at each other, Lin Chang’an and the others’ expressions became increasingly serious.

With Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion both beginning to reap from below, the tension in the situation was unmistakable.

The two major sects had turned against each other, while externally, the Divine Sword Sect had already launched attacks, reportedly focusing on Li Huo Palace’s territory, while constantly making friendly overtures to Profound Sound Pavilion, preparing to negotiate an alliance.

"Make use of the time to cultivate; who knows how much messier this situation will get," Wei Buyi shook his head, leaning on his iron crutch as he headed into the house, while Shen Lie also looked at his wife, speaking earnestly:

"Qingqing, you should also make time for cultivation."

Lu Qingqing was now at the fifth layer of Qi Refining. Given the current situation, even late-stage Qi Refining cultivators couldn’t guarantee their safety.

Standing alone in the courtyard, Lin Chang’an gazed at the snowflakes falling from the sky, the gleam in his eyes revealing a growing awareness of something unusual.

[Spiritual Eye (Proficient 26/500)]

"My Spiritual Eye tends towards a more enhanced version of the Celestial Eye Technique, extremely sensitive to spiritual energy. This year’s snow seems even more bone-chilling."

Lin Chang’an pondered silently. Behind these biting winds and snows, he detected a subtle change.

The spiritual energy was denser than before. His Spiritual Eye could clearly sense this wasn’t an illusion.

"An ancient Nascent Soul cultivator’s relic, with a high-tier spirit vein, wouldn’t be unusual. The dense spiritual energy in the air now, could it signify a leak from the secret realm?"

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an felt a chill in his heart.

Dense spiritual energy doesn’t only attract cultivators; it will entice demon beasts from the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. If it were as he suspected... 𝒇𝓻𝓮𝓮𝙬𝙚𝒃𝒏𝓸𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝓬𝓸𝒎

Then this winter might not be pleasant.

"Cultivate, paint talismans, not a moment to lose."

Lin Chang’an tossed aside a bunch of spirit grass, then turned and returned to the house, leaving the Cyan-Horned Bull in the courtyard, contentedly munching on the spirit grass and enjoying the changing world.

...

The snow was heavy, persisting without stop for a month on end.

In parallel, countless cultivators finally sensed the change in spiritual energy, and couldn’t help but exclaim.

Nevertheless, prior chaos had already shattered the market’s array, and with the two major sects acting as such, the looming danger of this harsh winter was clear.

That night, as Lin Chang’an was in the house savoring the cultivation effects brought by the Spirit Gathering Array, a sudden, mournful scream rent the night across the market.

In an instant, everyone in the courtyard awoke in shock.