Chapter 373 ·Returning to Prepare for Seclusion

Five ‍​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌​​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌‌‌​​​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​‌​​​​‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​​​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​‌​‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌​‌​​​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​‌‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌‌‌‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​​​‌‌‌‌​‌‍Dragon Island Marketplace.

As ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the Xuanyin Pavilion’s six Core Formation cultivators arrived together, many people felt the pressure radiating from the current number one sect within the Five Dragon Island sea region.

“I ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍heard previously that this trade auction would include several spiritual fruits capable of increasing cultivation. I specially came this time to trade for this item.”

Just ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍after entering the main hall, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt displayed not the slightest trace of weakness.

From ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍the very beginning, she calmly smiled while conversing with everyone and simultaneously revealed the purpose of her visit.

At ‍​‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​​‌‌‌​​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌​​​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​‌‌‌‌​‌‌​‌‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​​​​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​‌​​‌​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​​​‌​‌‌​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌​‌‌‌​‍once, the other arriving Core Formation cultivators exchanged glances.

Some were shocked, some watched the excitement unfold, while others revealed rather ugly expressions.

A year earlier, when the Four Seas Merchant Guild announced this trade gathering, they had indeed heavily publicized several precious spiritual items, among which was precisely the spiritual fruit Fairy of Rainbow Skirt mentioned.

Yet Fairy of Rainbow Skirt now spoke as though unaware of anything, while the Seven Kingdoms Alliance cultivators all likewise pretended to be confused.

“So it was that spiritual fruit. Originally, I too was somewhat tempted, but since Fairy Nishang has spoken, naturally I won’t compete for it.”

“Exactly, exactly. I heard the cultivator seeking to trade this spiritual fruit merely wanted to exchange for some magical artifact materials. Coincidentally, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance has mined quite a few rare spiritual ores over these years.”

“Indeed.”

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance cultivators spoke one after another.

In any case, everyone already knew about their mining operations, so there was no point concealing it.

Moreover, these words clearly indicated they intended to watch the Four Seas Merchant Guild make fools of themselves.

Many people even revealed expressions of schadenfreude.

A year ago, you publicly advertised the item, yet two months ago you secretly traded it away in advance.

Wasn’t that simply slapping your own face?

Furthermore, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance was obviously pretending ignorance.

How could they possibly not know?

Seated upon his chair, Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered slightly as he watched this scene unfold.

It seemed the situation was even more tense than he had imagined.

The market was only so large.

Naturally, the Four Seas Merchant Guild and the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would clash over利益.

With a chance to suppress an opponent, nobody would willingly let it pass.

“Moreover, the Four Seas Merchant Guild traded with cultivators from the Blazing Fire Sect this time.”

The Blazing Fire Sect was a demonic-path Outer Sea faction, and relations between them and the Bihai Palace had not been particularly good during these years of unrest.

Thinking this far, Lin Chang’an vaguely understood something and calmly smiled before lifting his spirit tea for a light sip.

He had no desire to become entangled in the struggles between these factions.

However, now that the Xuanyin Pavilion had reached its current position, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt no longer had the luxury of acting purely according to personal temperament.

Clearly declaring one’s stance was extremely important.

At the same time, this also served as an opportunity to strike at the competing Four Seas Merchant Guild.

“Master, even without the pill, I can break through within three to five years at most.”

Beside him, Sword Attendant naturally understood the purpose behind her master’s trip.

He had come specifically to prepare for refining pills for her.

Hearing Sword Attendant’s voice transmission beside him, Lin Chang’an lightly nodded and transmitted back:

“At this trade gathering, take whatever catches your eye. These peaceful days won’t last much longer. At this stage, everyone is sparing no effort to increase their strength.”

As Lin Chang’an and Sword Attendant secretly exchanged voice transmissions, the trade gathering officially began.

However, the atmosphere this time was clearly rather poor.

Especially among the Four Seas Merchant Guild cultivators, many wore unsightly expressions.

Even within the Four Seas Merchant Guild itself, some people had become dissatisfied with the Liang and Zhu Clans, as well as Meng Xinghai’s actions.

You all may have successfully traded treasures for the items you desired—

But did you ever consider the damage such actions would inflict upon the guild’s reputation?

“Hehe, so this is the renowned Fairy Nishang of the Outer Sea. Had I known the fairy desired this spiritual fruit, how could I possibly have stolen what the fairy loved?”

Unexpectedly, cultivators from the Blazing Fire Sect were actually present at the gathering as well.

The speaker appeared as a pale-faced scholar with a smiling expression as he cupped his fists toward Fairy of Rainbow Skirt.

Although his tone sounded humble, the slyness within his eyes carried clear mockery.

“I never expected fellow daoists from the Blazing Fire Sect would still remain within the Five Dragon Island marketplace.”

Upon seeing this, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt also revealed a suddenly enlightened expression.

Yet with this single counter-question, she directly exposed the recent dissatisfaction the Bihai Palace held toward the Blazing Fire Sect.

Although the Blazing Fire Sect was a Nascent Soul sect, this was still Bihai Palace territory within the Five Dragon Island sea region.

Furthermore, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance also had True Lord Lu standing behind them, naturally leaving them fearless.

Faced with this openly hostile atmosphere, many cultivators inwardly groaned in misery.

The situation was already tense enough.

Hopefully this gathering would not implicate them as well.

Lin Chang’an, however, softly sighed.

He had not expected matters to escalate this far.

First, external forces from the Blazing Fire Sect entered the Five Dragon Island sea region under the banner of hunting down cultivators who had stolen treasures.

Meanwhile internally, friction had emerged between the Seven Kingdoms Alliance and the Four Seas Merchant Guild.

“What a complete mess. Hopefully it won’t affect my cultivation.”

Lin Chang’an could not help frowning.

He truly did not wish for his peaceful cultivation environment to be destroyed.

At the very least, before the Secret Realm opened, he still needed a stable cultivation environment.

“Ling’er, after we return this time, enter seclusion. Although we failed to obtain the third-rank high-grade pill, the Ice Marrow Jade Liquid is not much worse in effect.”

Helping Fairy of Rainbow Skirt refine pills had largely been because life within the Xuanyin Pavilion had been comfortable.

Naturally, he did not mind lending the sect a helping hand.

Even though such spiritual items were now unavailable, that did not mean he lacked alternatives.

“Yes, Master.”

The Seven Kingdoms Alliance and Four Seas Merchant Guild would not truly tear relations apart.

This was merely friction born from competing interests within the market.

If the Four Seas Merchant Guild weakened by even a fraction, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would naturally seize that portion of the market.

As the trade gathering continued, everyone clearly sensed that while occasional treasures still appeared amidst the increasingly chaotic situation, strategic cultivation materials had noticeably become much scarcer.

Especially Core Formation spiritual items and treasures capable of increasing cultivation.

Moreover, the prices of most materials had begun rising sharply.

Lin Chang’an secretly felt fortunate.

Thankfully, during these years upon Bibo Island, he had accumulated large quantities of materials through his avatars.

At least he would not lack even ordinary cultivation resources now.

“I possess a third-rank high-grade Sinister Spirit Beast King demon core. I wish to exchange it for a same-rank wind-attribute demon core, or alternatively two water-attribute demon cores.”

After observing the trade gathering for quite some time and finding it dull, Lin Chang’an calmly slapped his storage pouch.

A demon core overflowing with sinister qi immediately appeared before everyone.

At once, numerous people were stunned.

“A third-rank late-stage demon core!”

“Hiss! Could it be that True Person Lin personally hunted it?”

Given Lin Chang’an’s current strength, coupled with the Mutated Spirit Beast Green-Horned Ox and his identity as a third-rank formation master, very few people doubted his ability to hunt a third-rank late-stage Sinister Spirit Beast King.

They were merely shocked.

Others who remained calmer instead remembered that Lin Chang’an himself was a sword cultivator who cultivated Blood Fiend True Master’s Fiend Essence Sword Art.

Moreover, the formations he had sold over the years clearly specialized in fire attributes.

With such strong suppression over sinister spirits, this feat no longer seemed surprising.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, I possess a third-rank high-grade water-attribute demon core. I am willing to supplement the remainder with demon beast materials. Would that suffice?”

Just as the crowd remained silent for a long time, a strange voice suddenly rang out.

The speaker wore a bamboo hat that concealed his figure and spoke hoarsely.

However, the sinister baleful aura surrounding him clearly identified him as a demonic cultivator.

This Sinister Spirit Beast King demon core was highly useful for cultivators who cultivated sinister baleful cultivation methods.

“Oh? And what demon beast materials does fellow daoist possess?”

Lin Chang’an was somewhat curious.

He had searched for wind-attribute demon cores for many years already and held little hope.

However, if this mysterious cultivator could provide sufficiently valuable materials, exchanging was certainly possible.

“Fellow Daoist Lin, please have a look!”

As a storage pouch floated over, many people grew curious, but none dared recklessly probe it with divine sense.

Upon examining the materials inside, Lin Chang’an narrowed his eyes.

Although the sinister baleful aura around this person was concealed well, he still sensed another presence—

Corpse qi!

This person was actually a relatively rare corpse cultivator.

However, that had little to do with him.

Inside the storage pouch were fragmented remains from a water-attributed demon beast.

Converted into value, they were indeed worth quite a bit.

“Many thanks, fellow daoist.”

After examining them, Lin Chang’an nodded in satisfaction before directly completing the trade.

Beneath the bamboo hat, the pale-faced cultivator also revealed delight.

With this Sinister Spirit Beast King demon core, his injuries would certainly recover much faster.

Those damned Blazing Fire Sect bastards—

Once his injuries healed, he absolutely would not let them off easily.

“A corpse cultivator, carrying injuries… and the lingering mana aura within those injuries seems to originate from Blazing Fire Sect cultivation methods.”

After the transaction, Lin Chang’an secretly observed and immediately noticed these subtle details.

Back then, he had interacted with Blazing Fire Sect cultivators before and even searched their memories.

Naturally, he clearly recognized the aura of Blazing Fire Sect cultivation methods.

At this moment, his gaze briefly swept across the Blazing Fire Sect cultivator and the Four Seas Merchant Guild before withdrawing again as he casually played with the third-rank water-attribute demon core in his hand.

At the very least, his objective had been achieved.

Although he still possessed some Ice Marrow Jade Liquid spirit wine reserves, nobody would ever complain about having too little.

Water nourished wood.

Naturally, the effects upon him would be even better.

As for Sword Attendant, although she was a sword cultivator, women inherently belonged to yin attributes.

Combined with the dragon bloodline within her body—

The effects of consuming water-attribute Ice Marrow Jade Liquid spirit wine would be no worse for her than for him.

In fact, because her cultivation was lower, the effects might even prove superior.

“Still, this corpse cultivator remaining within the Five Dragon Island sea region is ultimately troublesome. If he stirs up unrest and affects me, that would be quite bad.”

As for any supposed treasures, Lin Chang’an directly dismissed them with disdain.

Unless it involved Nascent Soul spiritual objects, he absolutely would not risk involvement.

And if true Nascent Soul spiritual objects were involved, the Crimson Fire Old Monster would have personally entered the fray long ago.

There would be no chance left for others.

Who knew what conspiracies might exist within this matter?

Moreover, the situation appeared far too suspicious.

He absolutely would not foolishly leap directly into the trap.

The trade gathering ended quickly.

Lin Chang’an also noticed many people conducting private trades, while many others wore solemn expressions.

After all, the situation was becoming increasingly unstable.

All kinds of materials continued rising in price.

Strategic materials had become pitifully scarce.

For cultivators who served as the sole pillar supporting their clans, claiming not to worry would naturally be false.

……

However, just as the trade gathering ended, news suddenly spread throughout the marketplace that traces of the cultivator hunted by the Blazing Fire Sect had been discovered.

At once, many people were shocked.

“Something feels wrong. The moment the trade gathering ended, this news suddenly appeared. Doesn’t it feel deliberately released?”

“Exactly. Something is obviously suspicious here.”

“We should all proceed cautiously.”

The moment they emerged, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance cultivators all revealed solemn expressions.

The timing was simply too coincidental.

Within the crowd, Lin Chang’an likewise nodded solemnly.

Not the slightest trace of guilt appeared despite the fact that he himself had secretly released this information using an avatar.

“Fellow daoists, regardless of whether this sudden arrival of the Blazing Fire Sect upon Five Dragon Island conceals ulterior motives, we should all remain cautious. In the future, when traveling between Bibo Island and elsewhere, it is best not to travel alone.”

At Lin Chang’an’s suggestion, many cultivators nodded in agreement.

Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an inwardly pondered—

This move of disturbing the grass to scare the snake meant that if the corpse cultivator were genuine, he would certainly become alarmed and leave the region.

And if a conspiracy existed, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would now at least possess prior warning.

In any case, the corpse cultivator had profited from trading with him.

One could say he had invisibly helped the other party somewhat.

As for the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, there was even less need to mention it.

Everyone earned spirit stones together.

How could he possibly allow someone to disrupt his ability to earn spirit stones and cultivate?

“Master.”

“Let’s go. We’re returning to Bibo Island.”

Lin Chang’an lightly smiled as he traveled together with several fellow daoists from the Seven Kingdoms Alliance.

Meanwhile, Fairy of Rainbow Skirt cupped her fists in farewell toward the three newly advanced Core Formation cultivators.

After returning this time, Sword Attendant would finally enter seclusion to break through.

And the Phoenix Cry Bird as well!

That bird had broken through early to begin with, and coupled with its exceptional bloodline, its cultivation speed truly was astonishing.

Still, Lin Chang’an himself was not slow either.

At the very least, he was already close to catching up to that bird.

“These days are becoming increasingly unstable. It seems I should find an opportunity to report my breakthrough into a third-rank high-grade formation master to that Sixth Elder.”

Thinking this far, Lin Chang’an narrowed his eyes.

In the end, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance merely helped True Lord Lu earn spirit stones.

And he himself was only one member among them, insufficient to attract excessive attention.

But once he broke through to become a third-rank high-grade formation master, matters would differ completely.

At that point, a Nascent Soul mighty figure would truly stand behind him.

At the very least, before entering the Secret Realm, anyone wishing to target him would first need to consider whether they could withstand the wrath of the Bihai Palace’s Nascent Soul Sixth Elder.

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