Read 30 Chapters Ahead On Patreon :D /zilawere/membership
Inside the cave mansion, the host and guest were seated separately.
Shen Bixin, with her tranquil and gentle demeanor, exchanged a few polite words with Lan Chang'an before quickly getting to the main topic.
"Fellow Daoist Lan, as a top-tier second-rank Talisman Master, you're highly respected in the surrounding areas with a sterling reputation."
"This time, I've come to make a bulk purchase of second-rank talismans. No matter how many you have, the 'Tengxing Merchant Association' will buy them all at the current market's highest price."
Upon hearing this, Lan Chang'an was slightly surprised.
Although he had some guesses about Shen Bixin's intentions, he hadn't expected her demand to be so large.
She wanted everything he had.
However, it seemed this woman had underestimated both the quantity and quality of talismans in Lan Chang'an's possession.
"I need to maintain the stability of my business at Little Turtle Peak, so I'm limiting the sale of talismans to outsiders. But since Miss Shen has asked, I will do my best to provide the remaining stock."
Lan Chang'an showed a hint of reluctance and spoke after some contemplation.
For the Tengxing Merchant Association to be buying up so many war supplies, there had to be a reason.
Even if there was turmoil in Huanglong Immortal City and a major conflict erupted, it would only affect a limited area and would likely return to normal soon.
There was no need for such a significant investment.
Lan Chang'an had stockpiled materials and talismans during the lull after the beast tide, so his costs were very low.
He could afford to wait and didn't need to rush to cash in just yet.
"Oh, and if you have any high-quality Restriction-Breaking Talismans, the price can be increased by thirty percent."
Shen Bixin added.
"Restriction-Breaking Talismans?"
Lan Chang'an's mind raced as he remained composed and took out a small box filled with second-rank talismans.
Most were of low grade, a smaller portion were mid-grade, and there were only four or five superior-grade talismans.
Shen Bixin was generally satisfied with the quantity and quality of talismans Lan Chang'an provided.
Currently, talismans were in high demand on the market, and purchasing them in bulk was quite difficult.
"Aside from these two mid-grade second-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans, do you have any more?" Shen Bixin inquired.
"These are three superior-grade second-rank Restriction-Breaking Talismans. Normally, I don't sell these, but since I feel a certain affinity with Miss Shen, I'll make an exception this time."
After some thought, Lan Chang'an pulled out three additional talismans from his storage pouch.
Restriction-Breaking Talismans are particularly effective against formations and restrictive barriers.
Lan Chang'an had a pretty good idea why Shen Bixin was willing to pay such a high price for them.
"That's excellent, many thanks to Talisman Master Lan for your help," Shen Bixin said, her bright eyes shining with joy.
Restriction-Breaking Talismans were relatively niche, and superior-grade second-rank ones were rare.
It was understandable that Lan Chang'an was usually unwilling to sell them. If they fell into the hands of an enemy, they could pose a threat to the protective formations of Little Turtle Peak.
Recalling Lan Chang'an's earlier words about "feeling a certain affinity," Shen Bixin subtly glanced at the calm and composed man in white, finding nothing out of the ordinary.
She smiled demurely, tactfully ignoring any possible hidden implications.
Before long, they completed a transaction worth over ten thousand spirit stones.
"I still need to visit Herbalist Ye and Fairy Shi, so I won't stay any longer," Shen Bixin said with an apologetic smile before quickly taking her leave.
Lan Chang'an had intended to gather some information from her, but he had to give up on that plan.
Later that day, Shen Bixin visited both Little Pill Peak and Xiao Pan Peak.
She didn't stay long at Little Pill Peak, purchasing only a few medicinal pills and healing salves.
Finally, she went to Xiao Pan Peak and stayed there for quite some time.
By dusk, Lan Chang'an received a transmission talisman from Xiao Pan Peak. Fairy Shi Manrong had invited him over for a gathering.
...
In the main hall of Xiao Pan Peak's cave mansion, two men and two women, all Foundation Establishment cultivators, were gathered for a feast.
Shen Bixin and Shi Manrong had grown considerably closer.
The two women sat together, occasionally whispering in private, their voices like melodious birds, making the atmosphere delightful.
Lan Chang'an easily guessed that Fairy Shi and Shen Bixin's merchant guild had reached some sort of cooperation.
Half a month later.
News arrived from Huanglong Immortal City.
Sanhu Immortal had challenged Huanglong Immortal and was defeated with injuries.
Zheng Centipede wrote a detailed letter about how it unfolded:
The battle took place near the Black Fog Mountain Range outside Huanglong Immortal City, and Zheng Centipede had observed it from a distance.
"Huanglong Immortal defeated Sanhu Immortal in fifteen minutes. This victory has somewhat restored the reputation of Huanglong Immortal City, which had been plummeting."
Lan Chang'an put away the letter and pondered for a moment.
As he had been a Core Formation cultivator before, he understood the differences between minor realms well.
The difference in mana quality between early-stage and mid-stage Core Formation was about double.
To use a mortal comparison, it was like an adult with a hundred pounds of punching force bullying a child with only fifty pounds of strength.
In the case of cultivators, the gap in realms, spiritual sense, and the performance of divine abilities and magical treasures would only make the disparity in combat power even greater.
Judging by the time it took and the process, Huanglong Immortal did not win through sheer dominance, suggesting his current strength was already weaker than that of a typical mid-stage Core Formation cultivator.
Furthermore, the Huang Dragon Beast, whose strength had fallen to quasi-third-rank, did not participate in the battle.
Considering the influence of the Huang Dragon Beast, Huanglong Immortal's combat power was less than forty percent of its peak.
In his prime, Huanglong Immortal, in conjunction with the mid-stage third-rank Huang Dragon Beast, could have contended with an average late-stage Core Formation cultivator.
His strength and status were comparable to what Lan Chang'an had in his past life.
"Sanhu Immortal has already gauged the general strength of Huanglong Immortal. If the Mo Family and the Hengchuan Merchant Association decide to act, it will likely be within the next six months."
Lan Chang'an was certain.
Given Fu Xuemei's current cultivation progress, if things dragged on any longer, she might successfully form her Core. If that happened, Huanglong Immortal City would have safely passed the most perilous crisis it had faced in hundreds of years.
For Lan Chang'an, this was likely the only window of opportunity in the next century.
Once that window closed...
Fu Xuemei, with her earth spiritual root, would form her Core, while he, practicing his life-nurturing technique, was only at the mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
Even if he successfully formed his Core decades later, the gap between them would be so great that he might never catch up, not even in hundreds of years.
As an earth spiritual root genius, Fu Xuemei might even have the chance to advance to the Nascent Soul Realm if she encountered the right opportunities.
In other words...
If he missed this chance, Lan Chang'an would essentially have to give up any thoughts of revenge or rely on outliving the other party to death.
Lan Chang'an was prepared for failure.
For him, his Dao was the priority, and he couldn't risk his safety head-on.
At most, he'd search for favorable opportunities to subtly push the situation forward from the shadows amid the chaos, perhaps even seizing the chance to form a Core himself.
Should there be no such opportunity, or if the risks proved too great, he would accept defeat. Better not to intervene at all; either way, he would suffer no loss.
...
Three months later.
The situation in Huanglong Immortal City grew increasingly dire.
The Mo Family and various forces led by the Hengchuan Merchant Association rallied a large number of cultivators hostile to Huanglong Mountain to gather at Huanglong Immortal City.
Leading them were several Core Formation Immortals, including a mid-stage Core Formation Immortal.
Half a month ago, Little Turtle Peak announced that they had sold out of talismans, and Peak Master Lan Chang'an had entered seclusion for cultivation.
This move wasn't surprising.
Earlier, the three main peaks of Wuqi Mountain had their war supplies purchased in large quantities by the Tengxing Merchant Association, leading to severe shortages and near-standstill operations.
However, within the secret room of Little Turtle Peak, there was only an illusory figure created by an Illusory Truth Talisman.
Combined with the concealing effects of the formations, even a Core Formation expert's spiritual sense would be unable to discern the truth with a casual scan.
...
A month later.
At Tian Zhi Pavilion in Liaoyuan Immortal City, a plain-looking youth in the late stage of Foundation Establishment walked out, a glint of peculiar light in his eyes.
(End of chapter)