Chapter 651 - 53: Settling in Funiu Mountain

The Cyan Bamboo Pavilion is located in the Inner City West District of Funiu Immortal City, and it is also the most superior area in the entire Inner City Spirit Vein.

Further beyond this place lies the Celestial Pool Core Spiritual Vein Area.

Only Honored Guest Elders of Funiu Mountain have been qualified to reside in this area all along.

At this moment, Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin sat in the front courtyard of the Cyan Bamboo Pavilion, appreciating its exquisite arrangements and inspecting for any hidden methods.

True Man Fengyin ultimately arranged for Li Ji’an and his wife to stay here and presented a greeting gift.

"Old man, how will Funiu Ascendant investigate you?" Ning Sujin asked softly, leaning against Li Ji’an after ensuring the entire field was secure.

Li Ji’an didn’t seem to mind, plucking a bamboo leaf, twirling it gently, and letting it fly towards the sky.

"The Cultivation Realm is vast and boundless, and Core Formation Ascendants are free to come and go above the nine heavens. How can he investigate me? It’s impossible."

"Then what’s his intention?"

"He’s just biding his time, observing our demeanor. If pursued by enemies, we’re unlikely to reside here calmly, and he’s also making it clear not to involve him, giving us time to decide," Li Ji’an concluded confidently.

"So he will definitely invite us to stay?"

"No force would reject a Mid-tier Third Stage Talisman Master, especially in a chaotic place like the Yellow Heaven Domain without a unified regional power," Li Ji’an smiled confidently.

As they spoke, someone approached the Dao Field.

"Pill Master He, an Honored Guest Elder of Funiu Mountain, greets Daoist Evergreen. Congratulations on moving in here. Is it convenient to have a word?"

Li Ji’an used his divine sense to discern him, a Pill Master at the early stage of True Core, whose pill fire was just enough to support early Third Stage alchemical skills.

"Pill Master He honors us with your presence, making this humble abode illustrious. Please, come in!"

Pill Master He had a thin face, with cunning eyes emitting a shrewd light, appearing very cautious.

"Daoist Evergreen is too kind."

"I apologize for the unexpected visit, I hope Changqing Talisman Master can forgive me." Pill Master He cupped his hands in salute, also exposing Li Ji’an’s skills.

"Oh? Pill Master He knows this old man?" Li Ji’an pretended to be surprised.

Pill Master He smiled and nodded, "Apologies, Daoist Evergreen. I happened to have business with Wind Chant City Lord and accidentally learned that an Honored Guest Talisman Master had come to our Funiu Mountain, hence I sought you out immediately."

"No problem, please, Pill Master He." Li Ji’an nodded with a smile.

"Daoist Evergreen, I’ll be frank." After seating himself, Pill Master He spoke straightforwardly.

"Pill Master He, feel free to speak."

"May I ask, Daoist, what tier of Talisman Master are you? Please don’t mind, it’s just that I urgently need talismans for support and can hardly wait, willing to trade with Third Stage Pill Medicine." Pill Master He spoke with anticipation and some anxiety.

Li Ji’an waved his hand: "I understand. If Pill Master He requires Third Stage Spirit Talismans, this old man has some confidence."

"Third Stage Talisman Master!" Pill Master He’s small eyes widened instantly with excitement.

"Would Daoist be capable of making Third Stage Divine Escape Talismans?"

Li Ji’an looked at him appreciatively, quite agreeing with his choice of an Escape Talisman.

While out and about, magical combat posed too many risks; it was safest to flee promptly if things went wrong.

But he had long passed the stage of relying on Divine Escape Talismans for escape; now, he used Great Shifting Talismans.

The Great Shifting Talisman required Mid-tier Third Stage Talisman Art, plus spatial talisman materials were scarce, he had found only one piece over the years.

"What a coincidence, this old man has made quite a few Divine Escape Talismans with a fairly good success rate."

"Really? Oh, I mean, Daoist, such talent," Pill Master He exclaimed joyfully upon hearing this.

"Would Daoist have any need for pill medicines?"

"Might Pill Master He have Third Stage Lifespan Extension Pills?" Li Ji’an asked with a smile.

Upon hearing this, Pill Master He couldn’t help but frown and shook his head awkwardly: "Third Stage Longevity Fruit is hard to find, moreover, I have little confidence in Third Stage Lifespan Extension Pills."

The value of a Third Stage Lifespan Extension Pill far exceeded that of a Third Stage Divine Escape Talisman.

It was essentially a Lifespan-extending Divine Pill that every Core Formation True Man longed for.

"Then I have no other particular requests," Li Ji’an smiled, shaking his head.

"I have a fifty percent chance of refining an Upper Grade Foundation Establishment Pill, I wonder if Daoist..." As Pill Master He spoke, he looked towards Ning Sujin beside Li Ji’an.

Li Ji’an shook his head again: "My wife has long prepared Foundation Establishment Pills."

"Then what would Daoist request in exchange?" Pill Master He asked with some urgency.

"Oh, right, this old man once owed a Pill Master a Profound Ice Blue Lotus. If Pill Master He can find it, I can draw a Divine Escape Talisman for you." The Profound Ice Blue Lotus is a unique Third Stage Spirit Medicine from the northern part of the Yellow Heaven Domain, the first one he purchased through Si Shui Commerce Association, and since then through Ten Thousand Merchants Domain.

Some time ago, Xiaoqiao formed her core; he had refined a Crystal Condensing Pill for her with a set of materials and now he was preparing another set.

"Good! Please rest assured, Daoist Evergreen, I can bring you a Profound Ice Blue Lotus within a month. Moreover, what type of talisman material is most convenient for Daoist in drawing the Divine Escape Talisman?" Pill Master He asked happily. While Profound Ice Blue Lotus is a Third Stage Spirit Medicine, its usage isn’t broad, and as it primarily hails from the northern icefield of Yellow Heaven Domain, it wasn’t difficult for him as a Third Stage Pill Master.

"Third Stage talisman materials with wood attributes like Red Peak Wood or Frost Ice Wood will do." Li Ji’an replied confidently.

"Good, good, good, Daoist. This bottle of Qi Supplement Pills is a congratulatory gift for becoming an Honored Guest Elder of Funiu Mountain, please accept it with a smile." As he was about to leave, Pill Master He solemnly handed a porcelain bottle to Li Ji’an.

In his eyes, the Profound Ice Blue Lotus wasn’t of high value compared to the rare high-tier spirit talismans in Funiu Immortal City.

Moreover, the talisman materials Li Ji’an required also reduced his expected cost significantly.

This bottle of Qi Supplement Pills was needed for the daily cultivation of a Core Formation True Man, serving as compensation and an expression of intention to establish connections.

Li Ji’an had a good impression of Pill Master He, but after seeing him off, he didn’t even look at the bottle of Qi Supplement Pills and directly fed them to Gugu.

After all, in his eyes, He’s alchemical skills weren’t really worth getting excited about.

A month swiftly passed,

During this time, nearly all the Honored Guest Elders around had visited.

Most came out of recognition for his Talisman Art’s value, with many intentions of forming friendly alliances.

During this period, he also encountered an acquaintance, the Second Tier Peak Artifact Refiner, Hua Hongling.

She was over two hundred years old, her bodily functions beginning to decline, having lost hope of advancing to the True Man stage in this lifetime.

However, relying on her Artifact Refining skill, she lived peacefully in this place, hopeful for a tranquil old age.

That day, Alchemist He returned punctually, bringing a Profound Ice Blue Lotus and a piece of Frost Ice Wood.

"Thank you, Daoist Changqing."

Li Ji’an took the materials and confirmed they were correct: "You’re too polite, Alchemist He."

Then he examined the Frost Ice Wood and said: "This piece of Frost Ice Wood should produce four sheets of Talisman Materials..."

"Is it not enough?" Before Li Ji’an could finish, Alchemist He expressed some concern.

The Tier Three Divine Escape Talisman had high requirements for Talisman Art, and ordinary Tier Three Talisman Masters who were not skilled in Escape Talismans had a low success rate. Previously, Li Ji’an had said he had a certain success rate, so he assumed it might be above twenty percent.

"Alchemist He misunderstood, I was merely asking what plans Alchemist He has for the remaining Talisman Materials?" Li Ji’an said with a smile.

"Oh? Well... May I ask what is the success rate, Daoist?" Alchemist He inquired with surprise.

Li Ji’an conservatively replied: "Fifty percent."

"Fifty percent!" Alchemist He widened his eyes, then showed a burst of joy.

"Doesn’t that mean you can guarantee two Divine Escape Talismans this time? Oh, no, Daoist, don’t be offended, what I mean is, Daoist you can perform freely, the agreement is for just one Divine Escape Talisman, and if there can be two, I am willing to increase the reward, this goodwill, I will remember deeply." Alchemist He explained further.

"Good." Li Ji’an smiled and nodded.

He also intentionally crafted symbols for Alchemist He to show Funiu Ascendant.

The skill of a Divine Escape Talisman with a fifty percent success rate made it unnecessary to question his claim of being a Mid-term Tier Three Talisman Master.

That day, he began Talisman Making.

Three days later, the Talisman Materials were refined.

Half a month later, the first Divine Escape Talisman was completed at Middle Grade.

A month later, the second Divine Escape Talisman was completed at Upper Grade.

Two sheets of Talisman Materials were still left.

When Alchemist He received the message to collect the talismans, he was quite astounded, especially upon seeing two talismans of unexpected grade, further shocking him.

At this time, he could almost certainly confirm that the Talisman Master before him was far more than just a simple Early Period Tier Three Talisman Master.

With such efficiency, such quality, it indicated he was undoubtedly a Mid-term Tier Three Talisman Master.

After Alchemist He took the two Divine Escape Talismans, an elderly man with silver hair, unkempt, appeared outside the Cyan Bamboo Pavilion.

He walked lightly, with a calm demeanor, softly knocking on the door.

"I am Funiu, here to visit Changqing Talisman Master." His voice was moderate, yet instantly caused the Spiritual Qi in the area to stagnate.

Almost instantly, the Divine Sense of all the Honored Guest Elders in the area swept over.

Being visited personally by Funiu Ascendant was a first in this place.

"Greetings, Ascendant." Immediately, all the Honored Guest Elders presented their respects to Funiu Ascendant.

Funiu Ascendant smiled and nodded.

At the same time, the door of the Cyan Bamboo Pavilion opened, and Funiu Ascendant stepped inside.

"Greetings, Daoist Changqing, pleasure to meet you." Facing Li Ji’an, he showed no hint of superior airs, offering a gesture of peer respect.

However, when he was outside the door just now, he referred to him as Talisman Master, conveniently avoiding the issue of titles, considering Li Ji’an displayed himself with Early-stage Core Formation Cultivation and he couldn’t publicly expose this.

"Daoist Funiu, I have heard much about you." Li Ji’an responded openly.

Later, Funiu Ascendant symbolically explained how he had just exited closed cultivation, then formally invited Li Ji’an to become a Tributor of Funiu Mountain.

But he stated it clearly.

"Daoist Changqing, my Funiu Mountain lacks depth, which makes it difficult to support the Spiritual Talent cultivation of two ascendants. What Funiu Mountain can offer you is only a quasi Tier Four Spirit Vein Dao Field.

The interests and responsibilities should naturally be equal, thus, from my Funiu Mountain, apart from the annual crafting of three Mid-term Tier Three Talismans, there are no other requirements.

Also, while you are in my Funiu Mountain, I will do my utmost to protect you, would you accept?"

Li Ji’an nodded with a smile: "We came here as a couple for a peaceful life, this sounds good."

Even if Funiu Ascendant hadn’t mentioned it, he would have.

This time was mainly for the quasi Tier Four Spirit Vein, not wanting many entanglements, nor wishing to be involved in any sect conflicts.

The two reached a friendly consensus, and that day Li Ji’an and Ning Sujin moved into the Funiu Mountain Core Celestial Pool Dao Field.

Compared to other Dao Fields within the Celestial Pool, his Dao Field was more peripheral, neither close to the Funiu Mountain lineage nor the other three tributors.

Fortunately, the concentration of Spiritual Qi was not much different, suiting his preferences better.

In the time that followed, he no longer considered other matters, immersing himself fully in Golden Core Cultivation.

Three years swiftly passed.

On this day, Ning Sujin, who had perfected the Chaos Technique at the Qi Cultivation Stage and fully adapted to the Spiritual Qi, was ready to officially establish her foundation.

Also on this day, news of a Tier Three Peak Pill Master becoming a contributory member of Funiu Mountain stirred Li Ji’an’s heart...