Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 73: Secluded Foundation Establishment
Two months later.
Lin Chang’an, who had prepared in advance, bathed and burned incense, donned brand-new dharma robes, and even chose an auspicious time before leaving.
He made his way to Yun Yao’s Daoist temple.
As soon as he arrived, the array at the Daoist temple slowly opened. Yun Yao, dressed in a white outfit, looked much more vibrant than before, suggesting her injuries had healed.
"Mr. Yun."
Looking at Lin Chang’an, a peculiar glint flashed in Yun Yao’s eyes, seemingly noticing something special about him.
This made Lin Chang’an smile awkwardly and clasp his hands, saying:
"Mr. Yun, I’m here for good fortune."
Even in cultivation, seeking good fortune is something many cultivators do before undertaking important matters.
"Let’s set off then."
Yun Yao nodded lightly, not opposed to this behavior. The strange glint earlier was merely because Lin Chang’an’s vigor reminded her of a familiar scene.
When they first entered the Immortal Cultivation Realm, Lin Chang’an was full of spirit, and inside the carriage, her eyes shone with stars, fantasizing about becoming an immortal, soaring like a bird and being unbound.
Little did she know, even as a Foundation Establishment cultivator, it was merely trading one larger cage for another.
Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an’s demeanor today was reminiscent of his spirited self when first entering the Immortal Cultivation Realm.
This made Yun Yao sigh inwardly, knowing that after Foundation Establishment, Lin Chang’an would likely realize, as she did, that the Immortal Cultivation Realm is vast, and a Foundation Establishment cultivator is just an ant.
Shaking her head, her expression turned stern as she escorted Lin Chang’an to the foot of the Immortal City.
"Mr. Lin, this place is a temporary closed-door cultivation chamber rented out by Celestial Profound City. The spiritual energy here is sufficient to support a Foundation Establishment breakthrough. Go ahead and choose a cave residence chamber. Once the pill is ready in three days, you’ll enter seclusion and break through immediately!"
Yun Yao aimed to avoid any accidents by planning to have the elixir ready and then immediately start cultivation, so no one could target the Foundation Establishment Pill.
"Thank you, Mr. Yun."
Lin Chang’an gratefully clasped his hands, understanding Yun Yao’s intentions.
Then Yun Yao directly turned around and flew toward the mountains.
This scene stirred Lin Chang’an’s admiration, and he nodded silently.
"Foundation Establishment cultivators can fly, and so can I."
With determination in his eyes, Lin Chang’an turned to find the steward here, ready to rent a cave residence for his breakthrough.
He was naturally familiar with this place, or rather, who in all of Celestial Profound City didn’t know about it?
In just a few years, countless Foundation Establishment cultivators have emerged from the chambers here, while many more have left despondently.
For a loose cultivator, preparing for Foundation Establishment already makes one exceptional, and obtaining a Foundation Establishment Pill to come here is even rarer.
Ultimately, successfully establishing a foundation is akin to crossing a single-log bridge amid a thousand-man army.
In the past, the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market had only a handful of Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Celestial Profound City indeed, with its abundant spiritual energy, has an endless stream of Foundation Establishment cultivators."
Coming from the small Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market, Lin Chang’an naturally understood the weight of a Foundation Establishment cultivator.
A small pond and a lake, incomparable in resources and environment.
...
Three days later.
"Mr. Lin, it seems no one has emerged recently."
Lin Chang’an held the jade token for another cave residence, waiting for some special cave residence numbers ahead of him.
Surprisingly, in three days, no one had left. He hadn’t expected there to be so many people establishing their foundation.
"I guess I don’t have a chance at those cave residences."
Lin Chang’an shook his head helplessly, looking at the ’Nineteen’ jade token in his hand, though he was actually waiting for the numbers Nine, Six, Five, and Three.
In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, these four numbers have different significances.
’Nine’ represents nobility and longevity.
’Six’ represents smoothness.
’Five’ represents the balance of yin and yang.
’Three’ symbolizes completeness and harmony.
"Nineteen it is. I hope everything goes smoothly."
Lin Chang’an waited calmly, but internally he couldn’t quiet his mind. It wasn’t about his composure; the Foundation Establishment was just too important for him.
Though he had a Golden Finger, it didn’t grant him immortality. Once he passed sixty, his vitality would decline, and his cultivation couldn’t improve much further.
"But I’m only fifty-four now, even if this fails, I won’t be afraid. With my capabilities, preparing for another Foundation Establishment is no problem."
Lin Chang’an thought to himself, but if he missed this chance, in the future he’d have to avoid everyone to attempt Foundation Establishment again.
Just as Lin Chang’an was anxiously waiting, until around noon, finally a familiar figure appeared on the mountain.
"Mr. Lin."
Yun Yao, clad in white, descended from the sky. At this moment, Lin Chang’an’s eyes glowed with light, and his joy was almost impossible to conceal. It was the first time he found Yun Yao so beautiful.
Of course, he certainly wasn’t talking about the Foundation Establishment Pill!
"Two Foundation Establishment Pills, one of which is upper grade!"
As soon as she landed, Yun Yao’s transmitted voice made Lin Chang’an’s eyes flash with excitement.
An upper-grade Foundation Establishment Pill is worth nearly ten thousand Spirit Stones, increasing the success rate of the establishment by about thirty percent, while a normal Foundation Establishment Pill offers a twenty percent increase.
This greatly exceeded Lin Chang’an’s expectations, filling him with joy.
"Thank you, Mr. Yun."
Many people witnessed this scene and showed expressions of envy. Most of those who could come here were either here for Foundation Establishment or had relations with someone breaking through inside.
When they saw another person obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill, they naturally felt envious.
"Mr. Lin, I wish you a long and enduring path to enlightenment!"
It was rare, but even the usually cold and aloof Yun Yao offered a congratulatory phrase.
However, at this moment, Lin Chang’an had no time to pay attention to this. He was staring intently at the jade bottle Yun Yao handed over.
One must admit the meticulousness of this woman Yun Yao; two Foundation Establishment Pills were inside one jade bottle, and no one would expect there to be two.
"Wishing Mr. Zhu success in Foundation Establishment."
Suddenly, the surrounding cultivators spoke, giving Lin Chang’an a startle. But seeing that everyone was offering congratulations, he finally broke into a smile.
It wasn’t that he was anxious, but rather, he had experienced too much. Opportunities that don’t transform into strength remain fleeting.
The past encounter with Ghost Three Blades, and the stories heard in these past three days, like the recent incident where an unfortunate cultivator had his Foundation Establishment Pill forcibly exchanged by people from a major sect.
"Mr. Lin, and here’s a Tier Two Concentrating Spirit Incense, for calming the mind and concentrating the spirit."
Yun Yao handed over another item, making Lin Chang’an bow in gratitude.
"Mr. Yun, I will remember today’s kindness."
...
As the sound of the chamber door closing echoed, once inside the dim chamber, Lin Chang’an finally relaxed, letting out a sigh of relief.
"Finally a smooth journey, with no incidents."
Lin Chang’an’s face was all smiles; with the chamber door closed, even a Golden Core cultivator would find it difficult to disturb.
These chambers at the foot of the mountain were connected to the mountain body, and could be considered part of the entire Immortal City’s defense.
With his mind completely at ease, Lin Chang’an could finally relax.
He had had many worries along the way, concerned about the number of Foundation Establishment Pills he could acquire, and worried about unexpected occurrences.
Who would have thought everything would go smoothly without danger?
This made Lin Chang’an secretly wonder, perhaps he wasn’t the protagonist?
"Now adjust the state, ready to close the door for a breakthrough to Foundation Establishment!"
Lin Chang’an took a deep breath and took out the Foundation Establishment Pills from his storage bag.
As the two jade bottles were opened, three Foundation Establishment Pills floated down, with two of them exuding noticeably more intense spiritual light.
"Three Foundation Establishment Pills, two of which are top grade. There’s no reason it won’t succeed!"
With a determined gaze, Lin Chang’an began adjusting his state, sitting cross-legged while lighting the Tier One Concentrating Spirit Incense he had prepared.
As for the Tier Two Concentrating Spirit Incense that Yun Yao gifted, he planned to use it when he was at the breakthrough point.
...
Outside at this time, Yun Yao’s cold eyes watched the disappearing figure, feeling a sense of emotion.
Meeting again after over ten years, who would’ve thought that her old friend Lin Chang’an would have reached this point.
This was beyond her expectations.
But just at this moment, two figures appeared.
"Senior Yun."
"Heh heh, Junior Sister Yun, your speed is really impressive. Senior Brother just wanted to have a chat with you, but if you don’t want to trade those top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills, so be it. Senior Brother wouldn’t insist."
The visitors were Mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator Huang Yuntian, whose face was full of a hypocritical smile, and behind him, Huang Shaohai offered a respectful bow.
But upon seeing this father and son duo, Yun Yao directly showed disdain with a cold sneer:
"Senior Brother Huang, the incident a few days ago, in which a loose cultivator was forced into trading his Foundation Establishment Pill, is widely known. If you weren’t my master’s kin, do you think you’re qualified to talk to me?"
In front of outsiders, Yun Yao always maintained an aloof demeanor, as befitting a daughter of a Golden Core True Man, holding disdain for such arrogant second-generation figures.
However, deep down, Yun Yao could not wish more fervently for Li Huo Palace and the Huang Family to invite more enmity upon themselves.
"Junior Sister!"
"Senior Brother Huang Yuntian!"
Under their scrutiny, eventually sensing Yun Yao’s terrifying cold aura, Huang Yuntian offered a hypocritical smile and chose to temporarily retreat.
"Shaohai now needs to close-door cultivate for Foundation Establishment, so we shall take our leave."
Feigning politeness as he turned to leave, Huang Yuntian’s eyes carried a chilling glare.
Hmph! Arrogant, isn’t she!
Let’s see how proud Yun Yao can remain when the Patriarch shows his true colors!
And beside him, Huang Shaohai appeared respectful, but after turning around, anger was evident between his brows.
"Father, those top-grade Foundation Establishment Pills!"
"Shut up! With your top-grade Spirit Root aptitude, are these two Foundation Establishment Pills not enough?"
In their telepathic conversation, Huang Shaohai’s face turned ugly, with resentment towards the cultivator who had taken his top-grade Foundation Establishment Pill.
Once he establishes his foundation, he better not find out who took it, otherwise, this matter will not end!
"Close the door for cultivation!"
Upon entering the chamber, Huang Shaohai angrily took out four jade tokens, each bearing the numerals nine, six, five, and three.
Two months before closing the door, he had reserved these four chambers with the luckiest numbers.
This is the privilege of status. Although he only uses one chamber, he can monopolize four.
