Sorry about the slight delay, I got caught up in something else. Anyways, here's an extra chap to start off the year!
“Impressive. Fellow Daoist Zhang’s design is truly ingenious, tailored to fit me perfectly.”
After understanding the design principles behind the magical treasure, Lan Chang'an couldn’t help but applaud in admiration.
“Your praise is too generous, Immortal Lan.”
Zhang Tieshan’s slightly darkened face remained calm and composed. In truth, this magical treasure was not entirely his original design. Its prototype was derived from an ancient legendary supreme spiritual treasure.
The Barbed Arrow was a small-scale magical treasure that required fewer materials. For instance, after using the fourth-rank Soul-Nurturing Wood, half of the material still remained. The remaining portion could be used to craft auxiliary accessories.
These auxiliary accessories were not magical treasures but rather fell under the category of wondrous items. They primarily relied on the innate properties of the spiritual materials themselves. Even cultivators with lower levels of cultivation could still benefit from wearing them.
The auxiliary accessory would retain the Soul-Nurturing Wood’s effect of nourishing the soul, which could help accelerate the illumination of the Nine Seal Stele’s past life imprints.
Whether it was the Barbed Arrow or the auxiliary accessories, both were relatively material-efficient, making it possible to meet both the requirements set forth by Lan Chang'an.
With the design plan finalized, the next step involved gathering the necessary materials. While the Soul-Nurturing Wood served as the primary material, additional materials for crafting the magical treasure were also needed, with a minimum requirement of third-rank quality.
Lan Chang'an and Zhang Tieshan had already collected some auxiliary materials.
“This is Meteorite Edge Stone, third-rank superior-grade. It can serve as the tip material for the Barbed Arrow, enhancing its piercing capabilities.”
Zhang Tieshan produced a fist-sized chunk of grayish-blue metallic ore.
Lan Chang’an recognized the Meteorite Edge Stone; it was extremely rare in the cultivation world. The stone significantly increased the sharpness of magical treasures, enhancing their ability to pierce through protective barriers and defensive spiritual light.
“If Fellow Daoist Lan has any extra Five Element Earth, adding a small amount can act as a stabilizer, improving both the success rate and the quality of the magical treasure,” Zhang Tieshan suggested.
Lan Chang'an nodded in agreement. Five Element Earth, being a versatile foundational material, was considered a rare and precious resource in artifact crafting.
“I happen to have a small piece of Shadowstone. Can it be incorporated into the design?”
Lan Chang'an took out a small chunk of dark, shadowy-gray mineral.
Years ago, he had obtained a large, basin-sized piece of Shadowstone from an ancient ruin. Most of it had been used to craft materials for isolating spiritual sense, but he had intentionally saved a portion for crafting future magical treasures.
“Third-rank superior-grade Shadowstone!”
Zhang Tieshan’s expression slightly shifted as he glanced at Lan Chang'an with a peculiar look in his eyes.
Shadowstone was known for its ability to obscure spiritual energy fluctuations and block spiritual sense detection. Incorporating this material into the Barbed Arrow would significantly enhance the weapon's concealment properties, making it both sinister and difficult to detect. It would even slightly boost its speed.
“...Feasible,” Zhang Tieshan said after a moment’s hesitation.
He almost wanted to speak up but held back. Crafting such a venomous magical treasure worried him—whether this was a blessing or a curse for Lan Chang'an was unclear. If this magical treasure fell into the wrong hands, especially those of a demonic cultivator, it could cause untold harm.
Were it not for his decades-long friendship with Lan Chang'an and the man’s sterling reputation for integrity, Zhang Tieshan might have refused outright.
...
The estimated time to complete the crafting was two to three months. Lan Chang'an decided to wait in Jin Yun Valley during this period. At the same time, he collaborated with Jin Yun Valley to craft various talismans, primarily superior-grade second-rank talismans and low-grade third-rank talismans.
Crafting third-rank talismans was a challenge, as the materials were hard to come by, and the success rate of talisman masters significantly decreased at this level.
In his previous life, Lan Chang'an had been a superior-grade third-rank Talisman Master. Even then, his success rate for crafting superior-grade third-rank talismans was only average. However, when it came to crafting mid-grade or low-grade third-rank talismans, he still retained a slight edge.
Unfortunately, that edge was far less pronounced than it had been when crafting second-rank talismans in the past.
As such, while crafting third-rank talismans for Jin Yun Valley, Lan Chang'an could only earn a small profit of about 20-30% of the materials’ value.
...n/o/vel/b//in dot c//om
“Having reached the Core Formation Stage, the advantages carried over from my past life will gradually dwindle,” Lan Chang'an reflected.
This was something he had long anticipated. By the time he reached the mid-stage of Core Formation, the residual benefits of his past-life memories would likely disappear entirely. This realization only made him more eager to convert a Nascent Soul Stage cultivator into one of his past lives.
He had a plan in his mind: after completing his final Core Reformation in Wangyue Immortal City, he would make a trip to the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.
While waiting for the magical treasure to be completed, Lan Chang'an met with Zhao Tan’er.
Zhao Tan’er appeared a little despondent. She had been staying in her sect to refine her magical treasure and train in her spells. Pulling Lan Chang'an along as a sparring partner, she trained diligently.
For the sake of fairness, neither of them used magical treasures during the sparring matches. Lan Chang'an suppressed his True Dan to a low-tier level, rendering his mana inferior to Zhao Tan’er’s.
Zhao Tan’er not only had extraordinary talent but had also obtained a fortuitous encounter in the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm, thus achieving a near upper-tier True Dan quality. Despite Lan Chang'an’s superior combat experience, he surprisingly did not gain any advantage.
This was partly because the Evergreen Technique wasn't particularly suited for direct combat. Additionally, Zhao Tan’er turned out to be far stronger than he had anticipated.
Over the past two years, she had sparred against nearly every other Core Formation cultivator in Jin Yun Valley, even challenging the Grand Elder at one point. To increase her practical combat experience, she had also ventured outside to complete missions, slaying several Fake Dans cultivators along the way.
“Uncle Lan’s mana seems inexhaustible. If this was a prolonged battle, I’m afraid I wouldn’t be able to hold my ground,” Zhao Tan’er remarked one day after their sparring session. Her breathing was slightly labored, and a fine sheen of sweat appeared on her forehead.
Her earlier advantage had been largely superficial; she hadn’t been able to truly overpower Lan Chang'an. If the fight had continued, she would have eventually run out of mana.
“Your Uncle Lan practices a life-nurturing technique. While it lacks certain strengths, endurance is definitely one of its highlights,” Lan Chang'an said with a light laugh, showing no intention of hiding this particular trait.
After the sparring session, Zhao Tan’er prepared to embark on another mission. This time, her target was an aged and severely injured early True Dan cultivator.
Upon completing this mission, she planned to visit the frontlines to assist her master, Zhao Siyao. Zhao Siyao was stationed at a rear-line immortal city as part of a support force for the battlefield’s second line.
Unfortunately, Lan Chang'an’s timing was poor. Zhao Siyao was already en route to the frontlines when he arrived.
“Tan’er, give this item to your master. It will give her more self-protection ability,” Lan Chang'an said, taking out a quasi-third-rank turtle puppet.
This puppet had defensive capabilities approaching that of a true third-rank magical treasure.
For some reason, Zhao Tan’er insisted on paying with spirit stones, unwilling to owe Lan Chang'an half a cent.
Lan Chang'an chuckled and accepted the payment.
Zhao Tan’er seemed slightly displeased that Lan Chang'an had refused to form a Daoist partnership with her master. While she understood his reasons, she couldn’t completely suppress her dissatisfaction.
Unbeknownst to Zhao Tan’er, Lan Chang'an had hidden three talismans within the puppet—two low-grade third-rank talismans and one mid-grade.
With their past camaraderie, he was certain Zhao Siyao would discover the hidden talismans.
For someone like Zhang Tieshan, who came from humble origins with only low-grade spiritual roots, achieving an upper-tier Core was already more than satisfactory.
With the help of his spiritual treasure fragment, he could continue seeking opportunities and had a reasonable chance of reaching the Nascent Soul Realm in the future.
Despite his confidence, Zhang Tieshan dared not attempt refining a True Dan again. The risk of damaging his Dao foundation and losing his path forward was simply too great.
“Stop being so ignorant,” the artifact spirit chided him in an old, lecturing tone.
“In the ancient lands of the Central State, even a finalized True Dan has chances to change its fate and defy the heavens. Moreover, with this man’s Evergreen Technique and the reinforcement of his third-rank body cultivation, dissolving an unsettled low-tier Core is entirely feasible in theory.”
...
In the guest quarters of Jin Yun Valley, Lan Chang'an spent half a month refining all three Barbed Arrows.
In the world of cultivation, magical treasures are divided into two categories: ordinary magical treasures and lifebound magical treasures.
Ordinary magical treasures only require standard refinement to be wielded.
Lifebound magical treasures, however, need to be infused with the cultivator's essence blood and nurtured over time with true fire. These magical treasures grow far more powerful and feel as natural to wield as one’s own limbs.
Lifebound magical treasures have another key advantage: even if stolen, they are nearly impossible for others to tame or control in a short amount of time. Additionally, lifebound magical treasures can be continuously refined with new materials, offering the potential for limitless growth in power—at least in theory. The catch, however, is that such progress requires living an extraordinarily long life.
For most high-level cultivators, their entire lifespan may only allow them to elevate their lifebound magical treasure by one or two minor grades.
“The Barbed Arrows will serve as my hidden trump card,” Lan Chang'an mused. “I’ll nourish and refine them with my true fire and mana over the years. If I persist for several decades, the accumulated power of a single strike will undoubtedly be earth-shattering!”
His approach to the Barbed Arrows was similar to his philosophy with treasure talismans. Since he rarely engaged in direct combat, he planned to focus on consistently nurturing the arrows with mana until the perfect moment arose to deliver a lethal strike.
As for more conventional magical treasures, Lan Chang'an had plenty of options. Over the past decades, numerous cultivators had fallen at his hands—most of them Fake Dan cultivators. Among his spoils were two outstanding magical treasures obtained from Master Lihuo’s remains.
Lan Chang'an raised his hand, and three magical treasures floated into the air before him.
From strongest to weakest, they were:
Purple Gourd, a top-grade fire-elemental magical treasure suited for Nascent Soul cultivators.
Currently, Lan Chang'an, being in the early Core Formation Stage, could not fully control it.
Its fire-elemental nature wasn’t a perfect match for his wood-based cultivation, but the two elements were complementary. When he reached the Nascent Soul Realm, this magical treasure would unleash considerable power.
The second one was the Braided Rope magical treasure, a superior-grade magical treasure designed for trapping enemies. It could also unleash powerful lightning strikes, making it a versatile tool for immobilizing foes.
Once his cultivation advanced further, it would serve as a useful method for subduing opponents.
Lastly, the Black Ruler magical treasure, a well-crafted low-grade magical treasure, is perfectly suited for Core Formation cultivators.
It was originally the personal weapon of Immortal tan, a Fake Dan cultivator.
Balanced in offense and defense, the ruler was particularly effective for head-on combat and dueling.
The Black Ruler magical treasure was the only one he had already refined, making it his primary weapon for now, along with the newly completed Barbed Arrows.
“With the addition of a third-rank combat puppet, my current capabilities are more than sufficient,” Lan Chang'an assessed.
He didn’t lack sacrificial pawns or defensive measures to ensure his survival. The Barbed Arrows filled the gap in his offensive capabilities, providing him with a precise and deadly tool.
...
After refining the Barbed Arrows, Lan Chang'an could confidently say that he had no weaknesses among Core Formation cultivators. With this newfound assurance, he began preparing for his trip to Wangyue Immortal City.
Even Zhang Tieshan had chosen Wangyue Immortal City as the site for dissolving and reforging his Fake Dan into a True Dan, so it was evident that it was safer there. To avoid suspicion and connections to his two previous Core Condensation rituals, Lan Chang'an decided to wait three years before performing his third Core Reformation.
Now, one year had already passed since his last reformation.
In the interim, Lan Chang'an struck a deal with Jin Yun Valley, officially becoming one of their Guest Elders.
This arrangement was largely thanks to Zhang Tieshan’s efforts. Jin Yun Valley was also very sincere, and the constraints on Lan Chang'an were minimal. He was not required to go to the frontlines but could stay in the rear, enjoying most of the benefits of being a Core Formation Elder. His responsibilities included managing logistics and crafting talismans.
At most, he might help Jin Yun Valley guard its assets and deter petty criminals from causing trouble in the rear areas.
If Lan Chang'an wished to leave, Jin Yun Valley would not stop him.
However, Lan Chang'an was required to give advance notice before departing. Zhang Tieshan specifically emphasized this and had it written into the spirit contract, which Lan Chang'an found both amusing and mildly insulting.
“It feels like Fellow Daoist Zhang expects me to run away at any moment,” Lan Chang'an muttered with a wry smile.
However, given the chaotic state of the cultivation world, stable and prosperous bases with third-rank spiritual veins were hard to come by. Lan Chang'an had no intention of abandoning Jin Yun Valley anytime soon. The Liang Kingdom, where the sect was located, was firmly entrenched in the backlines of the ongoing war, far from the active battlefields.
“Rest assured, Fellow Daoist Zhang. As long as the flames of war don’t reach Liang Kingdom, I will stand firm in Jin Yun Valley and ensure the safety of its disciples,” Lan Chang'an promised, expressing his loyalty appropriately.
...
Nearly two years passed in the blink of an eye.
During this time, Lan Chang'an enjoyed a leisurely life as an elder of Jin Yun Valley. His status was exalted, his treatment luxurious, and he had sole claim over a third-rank spiritual vein cave mansion on one of the sect’s peaks.
The sect even offered him a selection of young outer disciples—many of them talented and attractive female cultivators—to serve as attendants or helpers to manage his residence.
Jin Yun Valley’s third-rank spiritual vein was a medium-to-large one, cultivated and maintained for thousands of years. It could easily sustain multiple Core Formation cultivators without strain.
By comparison, the small-scale third-rank spiritual veins cultivated by some cultivation families could barely support one or two Core Formation cultivators.
On this day, Lan Chang'an calculated the timing, only two months remained before the planned date for his third Core Reformation.
Currently, both the Grand Elder and Zhang Tieshan were stationed on the frontlines. The sect master, Xuanxiao Immortal, stayed behind to oversee the sect.
Lan Chang'an informed the sect master of his plans to leave temporarily, using the pretense of visiting friends and purchasing resources.
As a Guest Elder, Lan Chang'an had significant freedom within Jin Yun Valley. Xuanxiao Immortal didn’t object to his departure and instead offered a kind reminder:
“Immortal Lan, be careful while traveling.”
“The demonic sect Unseen Gate has been infiltrating nearby nations. Just recently, a third-rank Alchemist from Feng Kingdom, who was also an early Core Formation cultivator, was ambushed and killed while traveling alone. It is suspected to be the work of Unseen Gate’s assassins.”