Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 86: Tier Two Cyan-Horned Bull
Celestial Profound City, marketplace trading street.
"Daoist friend, how do you propose to trade this Celestial Spirit Fruit?"
After arriving at a cultivator’s stall wearing a bamboo hat, Lin Chang’an stepped forward to inquire.
"Senior, this is a Celestial Spirit Fruit. I only wish to trade for Foundation Establishment materials or middle-grade Spirit Stones."
Upon seeing the visitor was a Foundation Establishment cultivator, the late-stage Qi cultivation cultivator’s tone became much gentler.
The Celestial Spirit Fruit is one of the Foundation Establishment materials and is also greatly beneficial for spirit beasts like the Cyan-Horned Bull during breakthroughs.
"Trading Foundation Establishment materials."
Lin Chang’an felt a quiet sympathy, recalling how similar it was to his own preparations for Foundation Establishment, except he has now moved past that stage.
"Although the Celestial Spirit Fruit is extraordinary, it’s not enough to exchange for these two spirit grasses of mine."
Lin Chang’an straightforwardly took out the Rainbow Grass and Spirit-Protecting Grass, which he had previously exchanged at the Zhou Family.
Comparatively, the Celestial Spirit Fruit is more suitable to aid the Cyan-Horned Bull in its breakthrough, while these two spirit grasses are better suited for human cultivators.
"Rainbow Grass, Spirit-Protecting Grass!"
The stall owner was clearly a cultivator who’s been preparing for Foundation Establishment for a long time. He showed an excited expression upon seeing Lin Chang’an take out the two spirit grasses.
"Senior, I have two Celestial Spirit Fruits here."
As expected, Lin Chang’an smiled upon hearing these words. These spirit fruits usually grow in clusters of five or six on a single vine, so most discoveries in the Cloud Mist Mountain Range yield three to five fruits together.
He’s grateful to Zhou Bingyun for sharing this knowledge during her regular explanations.
"Good."
Lin Chang’an didn’t hesitate, knowing that in terms of value, two Celestial Spirit Fruits should exceed his two spirit grasses by dozens of Spirit Stones.
However, for the black-clad bamboo hat-wearing cultivator preparing for Foundation Establishment, the value of the two spirit grasses was clearly higher.
This is a case of each party acquiring what they need.
"Safe travels, Senior."
The black-clad bamboo hat cultivator watched with an eager smile as this senior left, quickly packed up his stall, and hurriedly disappeared into the crowd.
...
Back at the cave mansion.
As soon as Lin Chang’an entered, the Cyan-Horned Bull soaking in the sun in the pool sniffed the air, and its eyes widened into large circles.
The next moment, it began mooing, hastily emerging from the pool to welcome its owner.
"Moo moo!"
Seeing the Cyan-Horned Bull taller than he is, yet showing a flattering expression, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but laugh and scold, "You silly creature, truly a dog’s nose."
The Cyan-Horned Bull had clearly smelled the Celestial Spirit Fruit scent lingering on his hand.
According to the Zhou family’s beast-taming teachings, all things have spirit. Demon beasts become extremely sensitive during breakthroughs, especially toward spirit fruits and grasses that aid their breakthroughs, instinctively seeking them out.
This is why cultivators sometimes find treasures others overlooked.
Demon beasts fight fiercely for territory, spirit fruits, and spirit grasses, or even for mating rights, a highly common occurrence.
"Moo moo."
The Cyan-Horned Bull seemed agitated from smelling the spirit fruit scent related to its breakthrough, instinctively pacing and snorting white mist.
Yet this Cyan-Horned Bull was worthy of its upper-grade lineage, with high intelligence. Its large, coppery eyes spun and fixed on Lin Chang’an with a flattering and honest expression.
"You silly creature, eat well these few days and get yourself into the best condition."
Lin Chang’an chuckled and shook his head, patting the Cyan-Horned Bull’s smooth hide, before taking it into the cave mansion.
...
A few days later.
For the past few days, the Cyan-Horned Bull had never experienced such treatment, being fed top-grade spirit grasses and Spirit Feeding Pills daily, along with spirit fruits and spiritual springs.
Lin Chang’an had even prepared a breakthrough nest for the Cyan-Horned Bull within the cave mansion he had for Foundation Establishment, sufficient to support a demon beast breaking through to Tier Two.
These few days had fattened the Cyan-Horned Bull considerably, its coat sleek and glossy, its condition remarkable.
"Top-grade Beast Spirit Pill and two Celestial Spirit Fruits to aid your breakthrough; if you fail, I’ll stew you afterward."
Lin Chang’an laughed and scolded, though there was some anxiety beneath his jocular words. After all, this was his first spirit pet, which had accompanied him throughout his growth, and he didn’t want any accidents.
Considering the Cyan-Horned Bull’s upper-grade lineage and the abundant preparations, its chances of success should be quite high.
Even the Zhou Family hadn’t been so extravagant, feeding half the spirit grass in their fields to a single spirit beast.
Lin Chang’an set up the previous Tier Two array ’Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array’ before retreating to the outside to serve as a protector.
"Moo moo!"
The Cyan-Horned Bull seemed to sense its owner guarding, mooing twice toward the outside, before turning to eagerly devour the two Celestial Spirit Fruits in one gulp.
It also swallowed the Beast Spirit Pill along with the jade bottle, crunching it down with loud chewing sounds, wasting none of the bottle’s fragments.
Outside the array, watching this scene, Lin Chang’an’s eye twitched as he shook his head inwardly, "Are spirit beast breakthroughs really this crude?"
Outside the array, waiting for the medicinal effect to take place, Lin Chang’an clearly saw the Cyan-Horned Bull’s presence surge, its eyes turning red, snorting white mist.
This was entirely different from a human cultivator’s breakthrough.
The Cyan-Horned Bull’s four hooves kicked uneasily, eventually venting its energy by charging around within the array.
The Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array’s entwining vines were repeatedly snapped by the venting Cyan-Horned Bull’s brute force, its mooing echoing loudly.
...
A few days later.
In Lin Chang’an’s cave mansion, spiritual energy stirred, yet because it was a Foundation Establishment cultivator’s cave mansion with protective arrays, the disturbance wasn’t significant. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎
At least, the outside cultivators didn’t sense anything, except Lin Chang’an within the cave, who could clearly detect the spiritual energy turbulence.
Within the ’Wood Armor Spirit Binding Array’, chaos reigned, as a powerful mana fluctuation swept through, the Cyan-Horned Bull’s snorting white mist concealed the divine sense detection.
"The Cyan-Horned Bull, after breaking through to Tier Two, can emit mist, blinding divine sense."
Contemplating this while controlling the array, Lin Chang’an marveled at the amazing mist, finding it even capable of obscuring his divine sense, making it impossible to probe inside.
"I didn’t expect the Spiritual Eye to be useful at this time."
Upon activating the Spiritual Eye, Lin Chang’an was surprised to find that it wasn’t blocked at all.
This meant the mist could only obscure divine sense but couldn’t hinder his pupil technique.
"The Spiritual Eye’s ability to pierce mist and stone has proven more valuable than expected."
[Spiritual Eye (Mastery 198/1000)]
Reevaluating the Spiritual Eye’s capabilities, Lin Chang’an felt he had previously underestimated it. The Immortal Cultivation Realm is full of rare treasures and spirit beasts with divine techniques to conceal divine sense.
To cultivators, divine sense is like an additional set of eyes; losing it makes one blind.
However, possessing a Spiritual Eye can prevent such occurrences.
"Previously, the Foundation Establishment Pill, and now the role of the Spiritual Eye, must be given proper importance."
Upon noticing the Spiritual Eye’s ability, the Cyan-Horned Bull’s deep and resonant mooing emerged from within the array.
"Moo moo!"
The white mist dispersed, revealing a spirited Cyan-Horned Bull, its previously brown-yellow hide shinier than before, now tinged with light purple, and its body grew larger.
The brownish-yellow pupils gazed at Lin Chang’an’s figure with a flattering and reliant look.
"Moo moo..."
Your feet trampled rapidly, quickly reaching Lin Chang’an’s side, affectionately mooing beside him.
"Not bad, seems like you silly beast will accompany me further down the path."
Lin Chang’an laughed while scolding, his face full of smiles.
With the Cyan-Horned Bull breaking through to Tier Two, its lifespan extended to two hundred years, offering companionship along the long cultivation journey, easing solitude significantly.
At this moment, he felt profound emotions, understanding why many accomplished cultivators gradually become indifferent to past friends and companions.
There’s no other reason but leaving a circle behind, and even more so, the desire to avoid experiencing too many joys and sorrows.
While in one’s prime, striving to cultivate diligently, loved ones, friends, good matches, and even descendants grow old and pass away.
These are unavoidable struggles along the path of cultivation.
"With my strength, plus a Tier Two spirit pet, I might stand a chance against typical mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators."
The Cyan-Horned Bull’s advancement greatly enhanced Lin Chang’an’s power, his face lit with smiles, especially given the current turbulent situation, any increase in self-defense strength equates to more safety.
"Next is the magical artifact!"
Enhancing one’s strength through external possessions naturally revolves around magical artifacts. Now, with a serene smile, Lin Chang’an retrieved from his storage bag the Cyan Bamboo Sword, along with the sharp forelimbs and other parts taken when eliminating the Iron-Backed Demon Mantis while preparing for Foundation Establishment.
His top-grade magical artifact Cyan Bamboo Sword, combined with these materials, should allow the Cyan Bamboo Sword to progress to a higher level.
