Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 77: Celestial Profound City Honored Guest Elder
Inside the cave mansion.
Lin Chang’an replied to each of the invitations sent by various families and sects.
This is basic etiquette; after all, he is just a newly established Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivator and dare not act arrogantly.
"The power of Master Lu of the Celestial Profound City’s Black Tortoise Sect appears neutral, but every word and action can affect the entire Yue Kingdom’s situation. If the Three Major Sects really tear their masks off, they will definitely not let this power wander outside."
At this moment, Lin Chang’an held the invitation sent by the Celestial Profound City Steward, lost in thought.
The roles of tributor and honored guest elder seem similar but are entirely different in reality.
Honored guest elders are primarily chosen for their outstanding skills, do not participate in internal affairs, and are only responsible for providing some talismans or elixirs periodically.
Tributors, on the other hand, depend on the sect’s resources and often need to guard a place.
"Regardless of being a tributor or honored guest elder, the Celestial Profound City will provide a Foundation Establishment Technique and corresponding cultivation resources. As a Tier Two Rune Master, I can also receive appropriate talisman inheritance."
In return, he will need to periodically provide a certain amount of talismans to the Celestial Profound City for decades to come.
"Being an honored guest elder is relatively more free and will not interfere with my cultivation."
After making his decision, Lin Chang’an put the invitation from Celestial Profound City into his storage bag and replied to the other invitations one by one.
Even in a brothel, there is a difference between a performer and a prostitute. 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞
If chaos truly ensued in Yue Kingdom, he was merely an honored guest elder—selling skills, not risking his life.
Without any hesitation, Lin Chang’an left with the invitation from Celestial Profound City.
Being just a loose cultivator, he couldn’t realistically inflate his own worth; delaying his decision would only offend others.
...
With the howling snowstorm, the upper half of the mountain in Celestial Profound City remained in perpetual spring.
Thanks to the array’s mystery, the mountain’s midsection and above remained unaffected by the weather.
Looking at this, Lin Chang’an was stunned by its wonder; indeed, the Hundred Skills of Cultivation each have their hidden mysteries. This array skill, if given the chance, must not be missed in the future.
Previously, while hunting demon beasts, he had experienced the power of these formidable external aids in crossing combat levels.
On his way to Celestial Profound City’s mountain waist, he found that the guards outside a great hall were all late-stage Qi Refining cultivators without exception.
"I am Loose Cultivator Lin Chang’an, here for an audience."
After presenting the invitation, the guard did not dare to slack off in the slightest. After all, the person before him was a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
"Please wait a moment, senior. I will report this immediately."
Standing on the mountainside, Lin Chang’an could not help but be overwhelmed as he looked down on the entire Celestial Profound City.
Although all are cultivators, the difference between the mountain and below is clear and distinct—two entirely different worlds.
"Congratulations to Mr. Lin on achieving Foundation Establishment."
At this time, an ethereal and familiar voice sounded. Lin Chang’an did not expect this person to be the one meeting him.
"So it’s Mr. Miao Yin who’s here."
The person was none other than Su Miaoyin, whom he had a brief encounter with in Yunyao Cave Mansion and was also a direct disciple of Master Lu of the Celestial Profound City Black Tortoise Sect.
Su Miaoyin, dressed as a gray-coated Daoist nun, her expression cool and holding a duster, slowly saluted.
"Mr. Lin, please!"
When Lin Chang’an returned the invitation, his purpose was clear. Su Miaoyin, too, behaved with courtesy and personally led Lin Chang’an into the hall.
"This is where Celestial Profound City conducts its affairs. Although we are all loose cultivators, someone must still oversee the city’s management..."
As they walked, Su Miaoyin slowly introduced the industries managed by the Celestial Profound City, and Lin Chang’an nodded frequently in agreement.
They came to a pavilion located at the mountain’s edge, overseeing the entirety of the Celestial Profound City covered in silver frost from above.
"Mr. Lin, please have some tea."
"Thank you, Mr. Su."
Sipping the spirit tea lightly, Lin Chang’an reflected upon his journey. Unexpectedly, he now sat with Foundation Establishment cultivators, sharing tea and discussing the Dao, and could call each other friends.
"To be honest, Mr. Su, I come from a loose cultivator background, with some research only in talismans, not skilled in strife and slaughter..."
With a look of melancholy, Lin Chang’an seemed to reminisce about the hardships and difficulties of his journey.
Seeing this, Su Miaoyin, dressed as a Daoist nun by his side, could deeply empathize. Although her current status is very high, she, too, once came from a loose cultivator background.
"If Mr. Lin accepts the role of honored guest elder, you can choose one Foundation Establishment Technique and three Tier Two talisman inheritances..."
As an honored guest elder, three Tier Two talisman inheritances can be chosen, while for tributors, it is five.
There are naturally also differences in cultivation techniques; some high-level techniques are available for tributors to select.
As for cultivation cave resources, they are roughly the same, with Celestial Profound City providing a cultivation cave free of charge.
"Thirty years, is it!"
Upon hearing the contract term, Lin Chang’an pondered silently. He had previously inquired from Yun Yao, and it was generally consistent.
"You only need to provide the necessary talismans each year, Mr. Lin."
Su Miaoyin’s ethereal voice lingered, and within the span of a tea session, it created a sense of being bathed in spring breeze.
Yet those eyes were inherently seductive, at odds with her entire image.
"Thank you, Mr. Su."
In this matter, everyone is under the same conditions, unless you have special abilities.
Lin Chang’an didn’t haggle, and straightforwardly signed a thirty-year spirit contract.
Becoming an Honored Guest Elder at Celestial Profound City, he obtained the inheritance of three Tier Two Talismans, a cultivation technique, and a cave mansion, along with the protection of Celestial Profound City.
In return, he needs to provide a certain amount of talismans each year for the next thirty years.
It’s like a loan; as a cultivator who has just broken through to Foundation Establishment, enjoying over two hundred years of lifespan, he’s now burdened with a thirty-year loan.
Moreover, after thirty years, this cave mansion won’t be free unless he renews the contract.
"Mr. Lin."
"Mr. Su."
The two toasted with their tea, smiling at each other, as Lin Chang’an sipped his spirit tea, secretly sighing in his heart.
Resources are hard to find in the Immortal Cultivation Realm; Foundation Establishment Loose Cultivators face the same predicament.
Without relying on major forces, it’s very difficult to find a cave mansion with abundant spiritual energy that’s suitable.
And there are various skill inheritances, some resources that only circulate internally, which Loose Cultivators cannot access.
"The path of cultivation, this is just the beginning."
Lin Chang’an shook his head, no matter what, at least for these thirty years, as long as he doesn’t casually go out, Huang Shaohai won’t easily target him.
As for thirty years later?
With the current situation in the Yue Kingdom, who knows, maybe one day Huang Shaohai will head to the front lines.
He hopes that this father and son duo perishes on the front line.
...
"What? He didn’t come for such treatment at Li Huo Palace, but actually went to Celestial Profound City!"
In Immortal City, at Li Huo Palace’s quarters, Huang Shaohai was full of rage as he looked at the return letter, which made him exceptionally furious.
"Shaohai!"
At this moment, his father Huang Yuntian walked in with a grim expression, speaking in a deep voice:
"It’s a tumultuous period now, tone down your temper. If it weren’t for you insisting on cultivating that Yin Yang Replenishment technique, you wouldn’t have failed with two Foundation Establishment Pills."
At this point, Huang Yuntian looked even more disappointed as if he hated iron for not becoming steel.
This son of his is good in every way, except he’s too unruly.
"Father, I am unwilling! If I had used my Foundation Establishment Pill to exchange that premium Foundation Establishment Pill from that wretch Yun Yao, I wouldn’t have needed to use that secret technique!"
At this time, Huang Shaohai was gnashing his teeth, full of resentment.
If it weren’t for that wretch Yun Yao, he wouldn’t have failed at all.
And the other party is merely a Loose Cultivator!
This only fueled his anger further.
"Shut up!"
Huang Yuntian directly scolded coldly, "Get ready now, stabilize your cultivation and head to the front line."
"What!"
Huang Shaohai was shocked, but seeing his father’s expression, he fell silent, his heart filled with even more resentment towards this Loose Cultivator who took his premium Foundation Establishment Pill.
The sect has always been ruthless, the strong devour the weak.
Cultivators with good aptitude and great potential are naturally assigned to the rear for more cultivation time.
Even Huang Shaohai, at most, feels unwilling, but does not dare to refute.
Seeing his silent son, Huang Yuntian’s stern face gradually softened, finally sighing helplessly.
"Don’t worry, you are, after all, of Huang Family blood. I’ve arranged everything for you. Be careful on the front line. After three to five years of meritorious service, I can have you transferred back.
After all, with so many people watching in the sect, the patriarch also needs the Huang Family to set an example."
Getting some battlefield experience, while also showing the sect that the Huang Family is still loyal to the sect.
"I understand, Father."
Upon hearing this, Huang Shaohai’s expression slightly improved.
This son of his may have a bad temperament, but he still makes the right decisions on major issues, making Huang Yuntian nod to himself.
A person can be bad, but they must have self-awareness.
"Before you leave, I’ve prepared a spirit pet for you. Pick it up together with the Zhou Family."
"The Zhou Family?"
Huang Shaohai hadn’t reacted yet, only seeing his father Huang Yuntian nodding calmly.
"Recently, I learned that the Zhou Family seems to have discovered some rare demon beast cubs in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range, worth dispatching Foundation Establishment Cultivators, surely extraordinary, just conveniently bring it along."
Good grief, this is treating others as their storage bags.
But after the father and son exchanged glances, they both smiled.
The Immortal Cultivation Realm has always been about survival of the fittest.
