Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 79: The Demand for Elixirs

Inside the cave mansion.

"What, the daughter of Patriarch Zhou?"

After Patriarch Zhou left, Li Erniu, who stayed behind, awkwardly rubbed his hands and recounted the task given to him by the family.

Lin Chang’an almost spat out his tea, while Li Erniu awkwardly scratched his head and began to explain.

"Brother Lin, don’t be hasty. Our Patriarch’s daughter, Zhou Bingyun, possesses a middle-grade Spirit Root, has considerable talent in Alchemy Dao, and is very beautiful."

"Of course, this is a family task, and I must tell you everything, Brother Lin."

Seeing Li Erniu, Lin Chang’an shook his head with a smile. This is the impact of the change in status after becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

When you lack strength or talent, even being a son-in-law requires scrutiny.

Yet, in merely a few decades, the daughter of the Zhou family’s Foundation Establishment Patriarch is now available for marriage.

Moreover, her talent is nearly at the top-grade Spirit Root.

Lin Chang’an now truly understands the impact of strength.

"Erniu, with the current turmoil in the Immortal Cultivation Realm and the tense situation in the Yue Kingdom, how dare I marry and have children?"

However, Lin Chang’an chose to refuse with a shake of his head, as he has too many secrets.

More importantly, at present, where does he have the time to marry and raise children?

At the moment, he only wants to earn Spirit Stones, purchase Spirit Liquid, and cultivate the Immortal Vine.

Upon seeing Lin Chang’an’s refusal, Li Erniu looked envious.

"Brother Lin, I truly envy you. You must know, she is the apple of the Patriarch’s eye. But you’re right; in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, things are unpredictable. Wasn’t the Wang Family there once, and then gone?"

Speaking of this, Li Erniu sighed deeply with emotion.

Who can predict what tomorrow holds?

Just like the once mighty Wang Family, which suppressed the Zhou Family into silence, the winds have changed, and now there’s not a single Wang Family member in the Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market.

Once, Lin Chang’an was refused as a son-in-law, but today he stands as an equal Foundation Establishment Cultivator alongside the Zhou Patriarch.

"Erniu, you know the ever-changing winds of the Immortal Cultivation Realm. Sometimes you must let go of certain things when the time calls for it."

Understanding Lin Chang’an’s meaningful gaze, how could Li Erniu not know?

Isn’t it just about using the Tier-Breaking Pill when necessary? Strength is the true king.

"Brother Lin, how could I not know."

Li Erniu chuckled bitterly, then shook his head and sighed, "But everyone harbors some unrealistic fantasies. I never thought of being as great as you, Brother Lin; I just want to break through with my own efforts.

This way, perhaps I still have the opportunity to glimpse the Qi Refining Ninth Layer, and at that time, I can protect Yifan and the other children in the Zhou Family."

Reaching the Qi Refining Ninth Layer means becoming a senior manager of the Zhou Family, a difference in identity and status naturally follows.

"But Brother Lin, you’re right. In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, strength reigns supreme. Once I return and make preparations, I’ll use the Tier-Breaking Pill."

Lin Chang’an also clearly understood that marriage alliances are real, but so too are the disguises behind them.

If Lin Chang’an were tempted, the Zhou Family would happily facilitate the marriage.

Even if not, it was meant to cover up today’s exchange of the Foundation Establishment Pill.

At the very least, the origin cannot be disclosed until the Zhou Family uses the Foundation Establishment Pill.

The two exchanged a glance and broke into refreshing smiles.

Once two young boys in the Immortal Cultivation Realm for over thirty years, neither of them is the same naive youth anymore.

...

After the wind and snow, Celestial Profound City was full of life.

Standing midway up the mountain, overlooking Celestial Profound City, Lin Chang’an was filled with emotion from this lofty perspective.

"No wonder everyone wants to climb higher. Only by standing taller can you see further scenery."

After moving to the Foundation Establishment Cave Mansion and viewing the completely different scenery, Lin Chang’an felt profound emotion.

As he turned his head, his gaze caught sight of the three highest mountain peaks where his Spiritual Eye could clearly see Spiritual Energy converging, filling Lin Chang’an with yearning.

"A Golden Core Cultivator, perhaps I can achieve it too!"

With a determined gaze, Lin Chang’an revealed a faint smile.

He possessed extraordinary talent and a fortunate encounter with an Ancient Secret Technique; there was no reason for failure.

[Lifespan: 55/205]

After the wind and snow, this year, the loose cultivator in Celestial Profound City, Lin Chang’an, was fifty-five years old.

...

Inside the cave mansion.

At this moment, Lin Chang’an was fully focused, holding a Spiritual Brush and painting a Tier Two Talisman.

As he completed the brushstroke, Spiritual Light emerged, and the Tier Two Talisman was formed.

[Tier Two Talisman Master +2 (Proficient 1/500)]

As the data on the panel changed, the Tier Two Talisman Master skill broke through from beginner to proficient, and Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but reveal a satisfied smile.

"From now on, I am officially a Tier Two Lower Grade Talisman Master."

A Tier Two Lower Grade Talisman is valued at one to two Middle Grade Spirit Stones, and one Middle Grade Spirit Stone can be exchanged for 150 Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

You must know that a Tier One Upper Grade Talisman previously only fetched fifty Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and that was due to the price inflation caused by the turbulent situation.

"I never thought that I would one day earn Middle Grade Spirit Stones."

Lin Chang’an’s upturned lips couldn’t be suppressed; even among fellow Foundation Establishment Cultivators, most skills remain at Tier One, and breaking through to Tier Two is indeed quite difficult.

It all depends on talent.

"As a Talisman Master with exceptional talent like mine, being able to create near Tier Two Talismans during the Late-stage Qi Refining meant that breaking through to Tier Two post-Foundation Establishment was natural and logical, without raising suspicions."

"However, these Tier Two Talismans aren’t as easy to sell as the previous Tier One Talismans."

After all, only Foundation Establishment Cultivators can use Tier Two Talismans. How many Foundation Establishment Cultivators are there in the entire Celestial Profound City, and how many of them can paint Talismans?

Upon suddenly realizing this drawback, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but frown slightly.

For some Talismans Masters with good talent, having a higher success rate in Talisman production than ordinary Talisman Masters isn’t an issue. After all, to his knowledge, there are two genius Talismans Masters in Celestial Profound City, whose success rate is three times higher than ordinary Talisman Masters.

"But my Talisman success rate is at least ten times that of ordinary Talisman Masters."

Encountering this thorny problem at once made Lin Chang’an ponder, but of course, it wasn’t that there was no way around it.

"I can’t just secretly sell them to Demon Cultivators, Tribulation Cultivators, or the forces of the Divine Sword Sect."

In the next moment, he immediately rejected this dangerous idea. Why take such a big risk just to earn a few Spirit Stones?

"I can produce twice the amount of Talismans myself, secretly selling one or two times the amount in the Market to exchange for resources, spreading out the sales, mainly exchanging with those Demon Hunting Squad Cultivators. This shouldn’t be a big problem."

This way, he solved the issue of four times the production, but there were still six times left.

"However, my biggest problem now is in Cultivation. Even if I could sell ten times the Tier Two Talismans without any risk, what good would that do?"

Upon suddenly thinking of this point, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but knit his brows.

[Realm: Early-stage Foundation Establishment (2/100)]

[Cultivation Technique: Evergreen Skill (Novice: 1/100)]

Looking at the frames for realm and cultivation technique, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but fall silent.

He could understand the Cultivation Technique, after all, it was an Ancient Cultivation Technique, meant to be cultivated directly to the Nascent Soul Realm, so it was only natural that the enlightenment would be difficult.

But concerning his cultivation base, although he had just broken through not long ago and had no progress, Lin Chang’an could clearly feel the slowness in his cultivation speed.

"My biggest problem now is my own low Spirit Root, causing my cultivation speed to nearly come to a standstill. Even if I trade ten times the production of Tier Two Talismans for Spirit Stone resources, it’s still just a drop in the bucket."

The limitations of a Low-grade Spirit Root become particularly evident after becoming a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. The methods he used during the Qi Refining Stage, such as using Spirit Stones to accelerate cultivation, were no longer as effective after establishing the foundation.

"The Evergreen Skill, though powerful, like other Wood Attribute Techniques, emphasizes steady cultivation in the early stages, focusing on laying the foundation, with a ’thick accumulation, thin release’ approach."

"Am I really going to have to painstakingly cultivate at the early-stage Foundation Establishment Realm for another fifty or sixty years?"

Lin Chang’an, who previously was quite happy upon breaking through Foundation Establishment and gaining over two hundred years of lifespan, suddenly found himself with a headache.

Considering his extraordinary talent and having obtained such a grand opportunity with the Ancient Cultivation Technique and Profound Celestial Immortal Vine, he certainly wouldn’t be content to let things slide.

"Now I either improve my Spirit Root aptitude, solving all problems, but that’s simply not something I can achieve at the moment."

Though there are Secret Techniques, Spirit Pills, and Treasures in the Immortal Cultivation Realm capable of altering Spirit Root aptitude, they are not something a Foundation Establishment Cultivator like him could acquire, so he didn’t even consider it.

"Then there’s only one last option left, the Elixirs!"

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but narrow his eyes. If he could use auxiliary Tier Two Elixirs to enhance his cultivation base, it would greatly accelerate his cultivation speed.

As for the notion that using too many Elixirs can make it difficult to break through to Core Formation later, that’s not a concern for him right now. 𝘧𝑟𝑒𝑒𝘸𝘦𝘣𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝓁.𝘤𝘰𝓂

"If I can’t even improve my strength, what Core Formation is there to talk about."

Lin Chang’an was very clear on this point, planning to find solutions later once his cultivation base improves to the late-stage Foundation Establishment Realm.

In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, what’s more abundant than all kinds of treasures, and only with strength can one have the opportunity to obtain them.

"In doing so, I could even use the time I have freed up from Talisman painting to improve my Alchemy Skill."

Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an nodded to himself.

It’s not that he doesn’t want to use Spirit Stones to buy Tier Two Elixirs, but elixirs that can enhance the cultivation base of Foundation Establishment Cultivators are extremely rare and considered important strategic resources even in the Three Major Sects.

"Although Tier Two Elixirs are hard to come by, ordinary Pill Formulas and materials can still be purchased with Spirit Stones."

The saying goes, ’rely on the mountains to eat the mountains, rely on the water to eat the water.’

The Cloud Mist Mountain Range nearby Celestial Profound City is abundant in Spirit Grass and Spirit Fruit. As long as you have Spirit Stones, you can buy what you want.

"Alchemy, then!"

Lin Chang’an calculated secretly and felt it could be greatly beneficial.

After all, no one would expect that a Tier Two Rune Master would waste time mastering another craft like Alchemy.

And the influx of Tier Two Elixirs into the market wouldn’t affect much.

He’s producing and consuming most of it himself, not to mention that the outside world is in chaos anyway.

Right now in Celestial Profound City, there are far too many cultivators openly and covertly buying Spirit Grass and Elixirs, whether for improving cultivation or for healing.

The most typical case would be the cultivators preparing for Foundation Establishment, who are collecting Spirit Grass and Spirit Fruit that are useful for advancing the cultivation base of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.

It’s worth noting that even ten more people secretly collecting like him wouldn’t make even the slightest ripple.

In the end, he could earn Spirit Stones by painting Talismans, use the Spirit Stones to buy Spirit Grass, then refine them into Elixirs for his own use, thereby improving his cultivation base and forming a perfect loop.

"Who could imagine that behind the scenes, a Tier Two Rune Master could also be a Pill Master?"

Thinking of this, a smile couldn’t help but appear on Lin Chang’an’s face.

This way, not only would his talent not be wasted, but his cultivation speed could also keep up.

Furthermore, he wouldn’t worry even if some Tier Two Elixirs entered the market, since their demand differs from that of Talismans.

The biggest issue with Tier Two Talismans is that they require a powerful Divine Sense to deploy, which Qi Refining Cultivators can’t control.

But Elixirs don’t care about such things.

Especially for late-stage Qi Refining Cultivators, Tier Two Elixirs are incredibly sought after, making the market astonishingly large.

Unlike Talismans, which present issues when trying to sell secretly.

"However, the Talisman path cannot be neglected, as it is my primary means of support."

Lin Chang’an understood that when he could eventually produce Tier Two Upper Grade Talismans or even quasi-Tier Three Talismans, Master Lu from Celestial Profound City would personally recruit him.

Even the Three Major Sects have only a few quasi-Tier Three or Tier Three Talisman Masters, underscoring their value.

By then, whether he’s plotting for Core Formation Resources or something else, everything would be much easier.