Eternal Life from Talisman Painting-Chapter 87: Master Lu of the Black Tortoise

Celestial Profound City.

"Talisman Master Lin, this Iron-Backed Demon Mantis’s forelimbs are incredibly sharp, and its back armor, unfortunately, there’s not much material. But these forelimbs fused with your Cyan Bamboo Sword can be upgraded to a Top-Grade Magical Artifact.

However, the back armor is not compatible with the Profound Iron Shield’s material, so it can only be made into a single Defense Magical Artifact, and I’m afraid this material can only create one Upper-Grade Magical Artifact."

Within Wuchen Pavilion, inside a shop under Master Lu’s influence in Celestial Profound City, Lin Chang’an was discussing artifact refining with a Foundation Establishment Cultivator specializing in Artifact Refining.

"I’ll trouble you with this, fellow Daoist."

Lin Chang’an said while cupping his hands with a smile. After hunting the Iron-Backed Demon Mantis back then, he was fortunate to collect all of its materials.

Unfortunately, there was only one forelimb, otherwise, it would’ve been more valuable.

"You’re too polite, fellow Daoist, a deposit of one hundred Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, and the remaining hundred will be paid after completion."

When taking out the Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, Lin Chang’an also felt a pang of heartache, as this was for an artifact upgrade.

The price for purchasing a Top-Grade Magical Artifact is above 500 Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, and the Flying Needle Class is higher.

Top-Grade Magical Artifacts are also referred to as Spiritual Artifacts due to the inclusion of many Magic Treasure Level materials.

"Middle-Grade Spirit Stones, I never thought I’d find myself worrying about Spirit Stones again."

After leaving Wuchen Pavilion, Lin Chang’an walked down the market streets, frowning as he calculated how many Middle-Grade Spirit Stones he still had and his income.

"A typical Tier Two Lower-Grade Talisman Master, without affecting cultivation, has a monthly income of only five or six Middle-Grade Spirit Stones after excluding the cost of talisman making, barely a hundred a year."

Of course, there are also Foundation Establishment Cultivators specializing in hunting Tier Two Demon Beasts, with high risks and high rewards.

However, these cultivators mostly experience long periods of inactivity with sporadic abundance.

Those with skills, on the other hand, have relatively stable incomes.

His talent was ten times that of talismans masters of the same level, and it wasn’t even his limit, but he hadn’t been a Tier Two Talisman Master for long, with time spent on cultivation and also secretly on alchemy.

Moreover, he was preparing for the auction in half a year, intending to buy a Flying Needle Class artifact, and there weren’t many spirit stones in his storage bag.

"For Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Middle-Grade Spirit Stones are extremely precious, whether it’s for arrays or for critical mana recovery, so even they are reluctant to waste them." 𝕗𝐫𝚎𝗲𝘄𝐞𝕓𝐧𝕠𝘃𝕖𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝚖

In short, for Foundation Establishment Cultivators, Middle-Grade Spirit Stones are strategic resources, generally not used for transactions lightly.

"But I can’t miss the auction in half a year; alchemy will have to wait in the meantime, I’ll use Tier Two Talismans to earn some Middle-Grade Spirit Stones first."

With a plan in place, Lin Chang’an smiled with relief.

...

As the news of Master Lu’s injury spread, it attracted countless cultivators to Celestial Profound City.

Some came for the auction in half a year, others wanted to take advantage and stir up trouble.

There were sects from the Yue Kingdom, as well as neighboring countries, as no one wanted to see a neighboring country develop stably.

The turmoil caused by Master Lu, being a Loose Cultivator, was even more admirable, truly deserving the title of the number one Loose Cultivator in Yue Kingdom.

Inside the cave residence.

"You gluttonous big water buffalo."

Laughter echoed by the poolside; since the last time a Beast Spirit Pill was traded at the Zhou Family, Zhou Bingyun hadn’t visited for quite some time.

Considering the Cyan-Horned Bull was about to break through, she was especially pleased to see its growth. After all, even the Zhou Family didn’t have many Tier Two Spirit Beasts.

Raising a Spirit Beast requires a tremendous amount of time and cost; with the Zhou Family’s capability, resources were naturally more inclined towards clan members.

"Brother Lin, you have no idea how terrible my uncle is. He joined the Li Huo Palace due to his talent, and the whole family provided him resources, yet he bit the hand that feeds him..."

Zhou Bingyun shook her tiny fist angrily, speaking about matters within the clan, making it evident that this person had leaked Zhou Family secrets.

Meanwhile, in the pavilion, Lin Chang’an, holding a jade scroll, raised an eyebrow upon hearing this.

This girl deliberately said it for him to hear, not only addressing the previous misunderstanding about the Beast Spirit Pill but also implying that their Zhou Family had suffered greater losses, nearly losing a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

Lin Chang’an listened and shook his head with a smile. This girl was very clever, always bridging gaps and resolving misunderstandings during casual chats.

"You say he’s from the Zhou Family, but he left the family when he was young, deeply influenced by the sect’s teachings. Which side do you think his heart leans towards?"

Under Lin Chang’an’s calm smile, he spoke of a very realistic issue in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

You say he’s from the Zhou Family, but in his eyes, it was the sect that nurtured him.

When the family and sect don’t conflict, he’s the family’s pride, the sect’s backbone.

But once they are at odds, he can only choose one. Should he choose to betray the Sect? Or should he choose to be the family traitor?

A dilemma!

"Brother Lin."

It was meant to be a serious topic, but Zhou Bingyun instead smiled playfully and shook her head, saying:

"It’s not that he wasn’t raised by the family for many years, and this person hasn’t been shy about extending his hand towards them, otherwise my father wouldn’t be so angry."

For such a cautious Patriarch Zhou to be so mindful, it can be imagined how precious that rare Exotic Beast must be.

"But Brother Lin, lately many outsider cultivators have come to Celestial Profound City, even many loose cultivators from neighboring countries have swarmed in.

Some want to witness Master Lu’s magnificence, while others are looking to see if there’s an opportunity to fish in troubled waters."

As Zhou Bingyun spoke of this, her expression was somewhat grave, not stating it clearly, but obviously hinting at something.

"A Core Formation Spiritual Object, is it!"

Lin Chang’an suddenly understood, just like how cultivators in the Qi Refining Stage face the temptation of Foundation Establishment.

With Master Lu injured and wanting to plan a Core Formation for his disciple, if any chaos arises, would there be a chance to seize this Core Formation Spiritual Object amidst the disorder?

For cultivators who have reached the late stages of Foundation Establishment, they aren’t young anymore, and many don’t have much time left unless they take a risky gamble.

"But has this Master Lu truly been injured?"

Lin Chang’an felt a bit suspicious; how could the strongest loose cultivator of the Yue Kingdom, who had made it this far, so easily let slip news of his injury?

Could there be some kind of conspiracy here?

In the pavilion, Lin Chang’an furrowed his brows in thought about the turmoil Celestial Profound City was about to face, while Zhou Bingyun playfully groomed the fur of the Cyan-Horned Bull by the pond.

...

At this time, inside Master Lu’s cave at Celestial Profound City.

"Master, recently quite a few late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from neighboring countries have arrived."

"Not only that, but Li Huo Palace is secretly fanning the flames, and it’s clear that the Three Major Sects don’t want junior sister to form her Core in six months."

Wu Yan, the eldest disciple of Master Lu, the Profound Water Turtle, had a rugged appearance with a fierce aura between his brows, currently showing concern for junior sister.

Meanwhile, the third disciple Song Tingfeng, with a handsome face, had a subtle hint of admiration in his eyes as he looked at his second senior sister, nodding in agreement:

"Yes, Master, senior sister forming her Core is a significant matter. Should we return to Abyss City to plan her Core Formation?"

The second disciple Su Miaoyin remained silent throughout, as the interactions between their master with this junior sister (or senior sister) were something the two brothers had long grown accustomed to.

"What place is Abyss City? It’s surrounded by tigers and wolves, and even I dare not claim I can ensure our safety there."

Master Lu, sitting at the head of the table, snorted coldly, his eyes showing the marks of time and experience.

He now appeared somewhat aged, resembling one whose lifespan might not exceed a century.

"I am not dead yet, and there is still the Profound Water Turtle in Celestial Profound City—just a bunch of clowns."

With a calm voice, Master Lu waved his hand, and the two disciples respectfully bowed and left. Alone in the cave, Su Miaoyin calmly watched her master—who could also be called her father.

When there were no outsiders, Master Lu’s face revealed a mocking smile.

"Miaoyin, in the Immortal Cultivation Realm, strength is respected. When you show even a hint of weakness, people will come to bully you. You see, even now that I am here, so many clowns have already emerged."

Below, Su Miaoyin, dressed in a Taoist nun’s attire, nodded with a calm expression.

"Master planned everything upon returning to the Yue Kingdom: first pretending to be injured and leaking out the pretense of lacking lifespan, then spreading the news of my impending Core Formation. Master’s determination has always been unwavering."

If any other Foundation Establishment cultivator had spoken to him like this, he would have been enraged long ago, but for this daughter who called him master, Master Lu was somewhat silent.

Back then, he was injured, his cultivation fell, and he pretended to be a Qi Refining loose cultivator to seek refuge with the Su Family. Together with the eldest miss of the Su Family, they shared common ideals; little did he know that after they parted, she gave birth to a daughter.

By the time he learned that the Su Family was in trouble, Su Miaoyin had already fallen on hard times, experiencing the difficulties of being a loose cultivator.

In the end, even the Yue Kingdom’s first loose cultivator, Master Lu, had to concede, waving his hand helplessly:

"Very well, let’s see this time how many who harbor ill intentions we can bait. Prepare well; even though your spirit root talent is not bad, it’s not comparable to that girl from the Profound Sound Pavilion. It’s not the critical time for you to break through to the Golden Core yet.

Wait until you thoroughly refine the Spirit Pill inside, after which your Spirit Root will be washed and promoted to Earth Spirit Root quality, and you’ll have an eighty to ninety percent chance of forming your Core."

Master Lu, the Profound Water Turtle, has always been cautious, presenting himself externally as middle-stage Core Formation. Even his daughter, Su Miaoyin, was unaware that his cultivation was already at the peak of Core Formation.

The stakes of his return were high, but he couldn’t just let his daughter form her Core casually.

The path of cultivation is long, and having a family member accompany him makes his lonely heart feel a trace of warmth.