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Wang Feng’s unexpected response left Lan Chang'an feeling suspicious. He didn’t believe that Wang Feng would alter his original plan on a whim simply because of an offhand remark.
Returning to the Liang Kingdom wasn’t easy; it came with significant risks and must have required firm resolve.
To change his mind so abruptly seemed almost frivolous.
“If Talisman Master Lan can assist me, then as a token of gratitude, I’ll freely share an important piece of intelligence,” Wang Feng said, a mysterious smile playing on his lips, piquing Lan Chang'an’s curiosity.
Recalling Wang Feng's previous comments, Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but speculate. Clearly, Wang Feng had done his homework before approaching him, thoroughly researching his abilities and preferences.
Otherwise, he wouldn’t have offered such a tempting reward in the form of third-rank spiritual bamboo, knowing it would catch Lan Chang'an's interest.
“Is the issue that concerns you the hidden injuries affecting your foundation?” Lan Chang'an asked directly.
Shen Bixin had briefly mentioned this before, and Lan Chang'an had observed Wang Feng’s condition upon their meeting.
However, from his earlier inspection, Wang Feng’s vitality and physical state seemed robust, without any obvious abnormalities.
“Over a decade ago, while traveling to Jing Kingdom on a spirit ship, I was ambushed by demonic cultivators. My cultivation level fell drastically, causing extensive damage to my body,” Wang Feng recounted with a hint of bitterness.
“Since then, I’ve consumed various rare elixirs and potent medicinal herbs, which healed my injuries and restored my cultivation to Foundation Establishment level. But the hidden wounds affecting my foundation were never fully repaired.”
“As of today, my cultivation speed has dropped to that of a high-grade spiritual root,” he said, clearly unhappy with the limitations imposed by his condition.
“I’m not a specialized alchemist, nor am I a famous healer. Why would Young Master Wang seek my help specifically?” Lan Chang'an asked with a smile.
“There are two reasons.”
“First, Talisman Master Lan has a reputation for integrity; you are widely respected.”
Wang Feng was still under threat in the Jing Kingdom, and he didn’t trust the local alchemists or doctors, fearing they might expose his identity.
“Second, from what I understand, Talisman Master Lan has unique expertise in health preservation, especially in the realm of nurturing and restoring hidden injuries. In this regard, you are no less capable than any renowned healer.”
It seemed that seeking out Lan Chang'an was a last resort for Wang Feng, with Shen Bixin’s recommendation also playing a role.
“I see,” Lan Chang'an said, unsurprised.
Over the years, those observant enough had noticed his exceptional skill in nurturing and healing.
Shen Bixin herself had experienced his medical abilities firsthand, and she had intuitively recognized that Lan Chang'an’s healing arts were extraordinary.
Moreover, both Mu Bingyun and Xia Wenyue had shown remarkable progress after long-term care under Lan Chang'an's unique methods.
However, this kind of nurturing took years, even decades. The gradual, subtle progress meant that, even when the outcome was successful, it didn’t draw excessive attention from surrounding cultivators.
Some spiritual treasures or third-rank alchemists could produce similar effects in less time.
This skill had its limitations and lacked strategic significance. To the major powers, Lan Chang'an’s abilities in this area were far less attractive than those of a high-level alchemist or formation master.
...
“Your condition is somewhat complex, Young Master Wang. I’ll need to examine your pulse and gain a deeper understanding,” Lan Chang'an said, stepping fully into the role of healer.
Wang Feng was trusting, allowing Lan Chang'an to examine him and answering all questions regarding his symptoms without reservation.
“It seems your illness went untreated for several years, causing a delay in healing?” Lan Chang'an said, frowning slightly as he finished taking Wang Feng’s pulse.
“Yes! During those years, I lost my storage pouch, leaving me destitute and without access to medicinal elixirs. My injuries festered over time,” Wang Feng replied, casting a respectful look at Lan Chang'an.
The specifics of this misfortune were something he hadn’t shared with Shen Bixin, and there was no collusion involved.
Wang Feng had no idea that Lan Chang'an, under a different identity, had encountered him before at this very inn.
Lost his storage pouch?
Lan Chang'an’s interest was piqued; his question had been a subtle probe.
As the grandson of a peak Core Formation Elder, Wang Feng’s journey into a neighboring country for refuge likely included some of Elder Wang’s assets.
In his previous life, Lan Chang'an himself had been at the peak of Core Formation and understood well the level of wealth that status entailed.
A Nascent Soul sect elder’s wealth was on a whole different scale. Even with similar cultivation, their assets would far surpass what Lan Chang'an could have amassed in his previous life.
If Wang Feng had carried even a tenth of Elder Wang’s wealth, he would still be wealthier than an average True Dan cultivator. It made sense that the demonic sect would have targeted him.
In reality, during his years on the run, Wang Feng had hidden his storage pouch in a secret location to keep it out of demonic hands. After lying low for a few years, he returned to retrieve it once he regained some of his cultivation.
“Talisman Master Lan, is my condition very severe?” Wang Feng asked, noticing Lan Chang'an’s serious expression. Even as a direct disciple of Flame Departing Palace, he couldn’t help but feel nervous and anxious.
High-grade spiritual roots were considered exceptional by most cultivators, but for a heaven's pride like Wang Feng, who aspired to condense a Golden Dan Dao Charm when he reached Core Formation—or even ascend to the Nascent Soul Realm—this setback was intolerable.
Even if he couldn’t form a perfect Golden Core, he at least wanted to come close to that threshold, aiming to gather Dao Rhythms during Core Formation.
“Due to the delay in treatment, your dantian suffered micro-tears that have resulted in lasting, destructive damage,” Lan Chang'an explained gravely.
He needed to emphasize the severity of Wang Feng’s condition to justify the value of the third-rank superior-grade spiritual wood.
In truth, Wang Feng’s condition wasn’t as dire as he made it sound; it was actually better than Lan Chang'an had expected.
He suspected that Wang Feng, after retrieving his storage pouch, had consumed some invaluable spiritual treasures to heal himself.
If he sought a third-rank healer, he could fully recover within ten years. With the right third-rank herbs, the process could be even faster.
“Talisman Master Lan, if you can help me recover, in addition to the spiritual bamboo and the intelligence I promised, I’ll also owe you a personal favor,” Wang Feng offered.
“A favor?” Lan Chang'an would have preferred more concrete benefits.
After all, not everyone was as honorable as he, who always kept his word.
“If I ever rise to the upper ranks of Flame Departing Palace, this promise will remain valid,” Wang Feng said confidently.
Lan Chang'an chuckled inwardly. This young man certainly knew how to dangle a tempting prospect.
In ordinary times, with Wang Feng’s talent and background, his rise to a high position in Flame Departing Palace would be almost guaranteed.
But the current war had thrown Flame Departing Palace’s fate into uncertainty.
Of course, even if Flame Departing Palace—a Nascent Soul-level sect—were to lose the war, complete annihilation was unlikely.
Receiving the third-rank superior-grade spiritual wood had already achieved Lan Chang'an’s goal. A potentially valuable favor was just an added bonus.
...
Two hours later, Lan Chang'an withdrew his hand from Wang Feng’s waist, wiping sweat from his brow and appearing pale, as if he had exhausted a great deal of energy.
“Talisman Master Lan, thank you for your efforts,” Wang Feng said with a hint of respect.
He had to admit that Lan Chang'an’s nurturing treatment had indeed shown results.
The sense of blockage in his dantian had noticeably lessened, even if just slightly.
In reality, Lan Chang'an hadn’t depleted his lifespan or employed his Evergreen Technique to an excessive degree.
The Evergreen Technique’s healing properties were excellent for nurturing and restoring, and as Lan Chang'an’s cultivation level and lifespan grew, its effects improved.
Upon his return, he took steps to stabilize the Wufu Merchant Association, allowing the Xin Family a share of influence, thus steadying the guild’s internal dynamics.
The Xin Family had never truly intended to split away.
Their ambiguous stance was merely a tactic to secure greater benefits by playing both sides.
Furthermore, if no new Fake Dan cultivators emerged within the Xia Family, they could eventually wrest control of the guild as Xia Hongyu aged.
“Patriarch Xia, you truly bring honor to us cultivators who pursue longevity,” Lan Chang'an thought, admiring Xia Hongyu’s performance.
After his recent duel, Lan Chang'an observed that Xia Hongyu hadn’t sustained any injuries, though he did seem slightly depleted in energy.
Cultivators who focused on health and longevity were often not known for their combat prowess.
But with time on their side, these cultivators could accumulate hidden assets and powerful techniques, making them formidable.
“The Xinyue Merchant Association’s challenge was likely just a probe to gauge the Patriarch’s strength. After suffering a loss this time, they won’t let this go easily...”
The more observant members of the Xia Family understood the underlying intentions behind the Xinyue Merchant Association’s challenge.
...
A few months after Clan Leader Xia’s return.
Qingsha Bay received another piece of good news.
The Xia Family’s young master had successfully advanced to the late stage of Foundation Establishment, and he had done so without relying on any breakthrough pills.
The Xia Family celebrated the occasion with a grand banquet.
At under a hundred years old, Young Master Xia had achieved late-stage Foundation Establishment even earlier than Zhao Siyao had in her youth.
This meant he had a good chance of forming a True Dan in the future. With the clan’s backing, at the very least, forming a Fake Dan shouldn’t be too difficult.
This advancement dashed the Xin Family’s hopes of one day controlling the guild by outliving the current leadership.
The attention on Young Master Xia’s achievement overshadowed the fact that Xia Wenyue on Autumnwind Isle had quietly reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.
In less than three years, Xia Wenyue had advanced from the eighth to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.
More precisely, it had only taken her two and a half years.
Lan Chang'an had even asked her to slow her progress slightly, claiming publicly that it had taken three years.
Such a cultivation speed was typical for those with earth spiritual roots, and Lan Chang'an wasn’t surprised.
The spiritual sensitivity of lower grade roots ranged between twenty and forty, while earth-grade roots had a sensitivity above eighty.
In the early stages of cultivation, earth-grade roots allowed for a pace over twice that of average cultivators.
Her rapid progress couldn’t remain hidden forever.
Xia Wenyue’s stunning beauty and her ninth-layer Qi-Refining cultivation were like a brilliant jade gradually drawing more attention within the clan.
After all, Xia Wenyue was only thirty-five or thirty-six years old.
Without the hindrance of her frail health, she might even reach Foundation Establishment before forty, a feat on par with some sect elites.
...
“Wenyue, can’t you be a little warmer? Even when you’re cold, you’re as beautiful as an ice fairy.”
“As long as you agree to attend the lantern festival with me on the sixth, I promise I won’t bother you again. Among our generation in the clan, we’re the highest-ranked. Who else could compare?”
At the edge of Autumnwind Isle, a fair-skinned young man with a round face smiled ingratiatingly as he watched Xia Wenyue busying herself in the herb garden.
The girl in a plain dress, slender and serene as snow, had a classical beauty with a faint mist between her brows, lending her an ethereal and poetic charm.
Watching her graceful figure, Xia Yuanjing felt his heart flutter, swallowing nervously.
Throughout the Xia Family and even the entire Wufu Merchant Association, no other female cultivator matched her beauty and poise.
What’s more, Xia Wenyue seemed to have stabilized her condition and had steadily advanced to the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.
Due to her health issues, it was unlikely that she could reach Foundation Establishment.
But a stunning female cultivator at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining was enough to attract attention from some Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Xia Yuanjing himself was at the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, about ten years older than Xia Wenyue, and was the son of a Foundation Establishment elder.
He considered marrying a frail ninth-layer Qi-Refining cultivator to be a generous gesture on his part.
In a prominent cultivation family like the Xia Family, it was common for cousins or distant relatives to marry to keep talented women within the family.
“Xia Yuanjing, if you don’t leave, I’ll report this to Master Lan,” Xia Wenyue said coldly.
Over the past few months, several male clan members had come to Autumnwind Isle under the guise of procuring supplies, all hoping to court her.
“Master Lan is generous and indifferent to worldly affairs. As long as I don’t disturb him at his residence, he won’t mind,” Xia Yuanjing said with a smirk, unafraid of the “gentle old man.”
Outside the estate, Lan Chang'an emerged for a leisurely stroll and happened to witness the scene in the distance.
“Let him cool down a bit.”
With a calm expression, Lan Chang'an issued a simple command.
At a hundred and fifty-six years of age, he had no intention of getting into a petty conflict with a youngster.
“Wenyue... mmph...”
Xia Yuanjing suddenly found himself unable to speak as a layer of yellow sand spread from his feet, encasing him entirely in an instant.
Moments later, Autumnwind Isle gained a new statue—a petrified, round-faced young man.
“Master Lan, I’m sorry for causing you trouble,” Xia Wenyue said softly, her face slightly flushed as she looked toward the white-robed figure in the distance.
“When a beautiful jade begins to shine, situations like this will become more frequent. You must learn to handle them within the family,” Lan Chang'an advised calmly.
He had long anticipated this, which was why he had no intention of keeping her tied to his side indefinitely.
Imagine having to deal with such a troublesome figure for over a hundred years—how much unnecessary conflict would that invite?
He had no qualms about Xia Wenyue entering the broader cultivation world’s gaze.
After all, this environment wasn’t the best place to nurture her potential.
All he needed was to plant the seed now, and one day, he would harvest the fruit.
The future gains were uncertain, but his investment was minimal.
It was certainly better than painstakingly cultivating her for a century, only for someone else to reap the rewards.
For long-lived cultivators, there was a certain amusement in the unpredictability of a venture like this.