Lin Shiming did not ask, but at this time, he guessed that it had to do with the previous transaction between Lin Xianzhi and Zi Xuan Hermit.
Lin Xianzhi paced within the room before he finally let out a sigh and said,
Experience tales at empire
"Shiming, you must have guessed by now, Zi Xuan Hermit has been our Lin Family's backer. Initially, it was out of regard for our honorable ancestor Zhengxing, but later it became a transaction!"
"Speaking of that, when ancestor Zhengxing broke away from the sect to establish our family, many of the Purple Mansion elders in Qingxuan Sect, including Zi Xuan Hermit, did not agree with the move. Later, when our family faced discrimination in Yunzhou, ancestor Zhengxing was even trapped and killed by the patriarch of the Li Family in the Qingyun Mountains.
At that time, the Li Family had Li Chuanhuan, a Purple Mansion cultivator, but our Lin Family had none!"
"Zi Xuan Hermit stepped forward, helping our Lin Family to survive three crises of extermination, but as a result, he was warned by the Qingxuan Sect."
"Later on, Zi Xuan Hermit even took me as an honorary disciple, showing the utmost favor! It's just that our Lin Family had nothing with which to repay him!"
As Lin Xianzhi spoke slowly, he sighed and his gaze turned towards the void, as if reminiscing the scenes from a hundred years ago.
He then continued,
"Back then, I had comprehended Sword Intent, full of vigor, thinking that no one of the same rank could outmatch me. But in this world, there's no guarantee of fighting only those of the same rank, nor is there any rule that says battles are one-on-one. I was ambushed by several Foundation Establishment Middle Stage cultivators from the Li Family, and it was Brother Xie who sent help to save me.
Otherwise, I wouldn't have even managed to hang on for thirty more years lingering on in dire straits!"
"While Brother Xie saved me, he also brought instructions from Zi Xuan Hermit: to become a true disciple of the Sect, ensuring the Lin Family's safety for a hundred years, to forever break away from the family, or to take a risk once and enter Qingxuan Sect's Profound Grade Secret Realm.
But at that time, I was already afflicted with the five poisons, and the family could not be without a Foundation Establishment cultivator, so I refused!"
As Lin Xianzhi spoke up to this point, Lin Shiming couldn't help imagining the scene of Lin Xianzhi at that time.
Surely at that moment, the seventh great-uncle must have hesitated, right? To abandon the family for the true teachings of the Sect and the prospect of reaching Purple Mansion, whereas staying in the family meant nothing but the continuation of familial legacy with no other benefits.
And yet, the seventh great-uncle had chosen the family.
Just like the first time the seventh great-uncle saw him, asking him why the family? Why indeed?
They had all chosen the path of the family.
Within the myriad paths of the Great Dao, they chose to protect one.
Lin Shiming agreed several times and then left Lin Xianzhi's room, heading towards the Heavenly River City to exchange for a Third Rank treasure at the treasure building.
The token of the Black Jiao Hermit should be put to good use sooner rather than later. Right now, without Lu Changming's Magic Artifact, he only had a few usable Magic Artifacts. Against average Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he was fine, but if he were to face more formidable mid-stage or late-stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators, he would have absolutely no hope at all.
Aside from the Superior Grade Stealth Magic Artifact, the Heaven-Spinning Spider Silk, his other offensive Magic Artifacts were all ordinary Third Rank Intermediate Grade Magic Artifacts.
In battle, one obviously couldn't always use a stealth Magic Artifact to cast spells right to the opponent's face.
The treasure building he was heading to was also known as the Demon-Slaying Pavilion, where one could exchange the heads of Demon Cultivators for treasures. The treasures of the Demon-Slaying Pavilion were provided jointly by the Three Sects.
Among them were treasures such as Foundation Establishment Pills and Purple Mansion Jade Liquid.
However, the exchange terms were extremely stringent, especially for Purple Mansion Jade Liquid, as one needed to slay a Purple Mansion Cultivator to exchange for it, but if one had the ability to slay a Purple Mansion Cultivator, naturally they would be a Purple Mansion Cultivator themselves.
Lin Shiming did not crave such vain things. At the treasure building's Third Rank treasures area, he would look for a good offensive Magic Artifact or a good spirit wood.
Once the Purple Wood Profound Heavenly Sword Formation was refined again, he would be fully satisfied.
He had asked Xie An for the address of the treasure building after leaving the Zi Xuan Pavilion.
Before long, Lin Shiming arrived at the entrance of the treasure building.
The treasure building was only separated by a single wall from the city lord's mansion. Looking up, one could see the sparkling precious glow and Spirit Might radiating from the Beast Ring.
Lin Shiming glanced at it only once, feeling as if a terrifying primeval beast were staring at him, causing him to involuntarily shiver and sweat coldly.
He hastily practiced the Spell of Split Spirit Decision several times before he finally recovered.
"Fellow Daoist, that is the Magical Treasure of the Heavenly Beast True Person, you must not look at it directly!" a Cultivator from the Spirit Beast Sect guarding the Many Treasures Pavilion kindly reminded.
Lin Shiming hastily replied with thanks.
He then entered the treasure building, which, unlike ordinary shops, first presented a huge luminous screen.
This screen was clearly a massive Third Rank Magic Artifact, and it was covered with densely packed treasures.
These treasures were divided into Second Rank, Third Rank, and Fourth Rank treasures!
Second Rank Qi Cultivation treasures could be exchanged with the heads of Second Rank Qi Cultivation Demon Cultivators, Third Rank Foundation Establishment treasures with the heads of Foundation Establishment Demon Cultivators, and Fourth Rank treasures accordingly.
Lin Shiming directly bypassed the Second Rank treasures and focused on the Third Rank treasures, looking specifically for spirit woods.