Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

...

"Master."

The Sword Servant, upon seeing Lin Chang’an after returning from the market, couldn’t help but smile and quickly stepped forward to salute respectfully.

"Master, the market profits have been good over the past two years. Here is this quarter’s profit."

The Sword Servant respectfully presented a bulging storage bag, and Lin Chang’an nodded with a smile.

In recent years, Zhou Bingxuan, Li Tianmo, and Shen Zhuang have all done quite well in the market.

However, Lin Chang’an was more satisfied that the Sword Servant’s cultivation had not fallen behind over the years.

"Tell the others that as long as they perform well, opportunities for Core Formation may not be unattainable."

As his strength grew, Lin Chang’an realized he couldn’t always have the Sword Servant handling every trivial matter.

And to motivate others to work hard, one couldn’t just make empty promises.

There had to be real significance.

"Opportunities for Core Formation!?"

The Sword Servant silently looked at her master, wanting to do more for him.

"As for you, in the future, you might have to help me with other matters."

Once the Bibo Island black market is secured, the Sword Servant would be the best assistant.

Moreover, with the Sword Servant’s strength, she could easily intimidate any ordinary Core Formation Middle Stage cultivators.

Lin Chang’an then explained the situation of the Bibo Island black market.

Upon hearing this, the Sword Servant resolutely clasped her hands together and said, "Master, rest assured, your servant will not disappoint you."

"Although Mr. and Mrs. Meng agreed, Bibo Island isn’t governed by just one party, and there could be twists and turns."

If the Bibo Island black market were so easy to take over, Fairy Ni Chang wouldn’t have sought his cooperation.

Even though True Monarch Lu is a Nascent Soul cultivator, other people likely have backing, given the significant profits involved.

"Currently, Bihai Palace has agreements with various powers that prohibit Nascent Soul cultivators from meddling in disturbances before the Secret Realm opens.

If it’s just Core Formation cultivators, then the Seven Kingdoms Alliance, when combined, isn’t weak at all."

Lin Chang’an contemplated silently; the Seven Kingdoms Alliance had both bad and good experiences over the years, and overall their strength wasn’t weak.

Nearly twenty Core Formation cultivators, no matter which sea they are in, represent a notable strength.

And this force now seemed consolidated, presumably with Bihai Palace’s encouragement.

After all, True Monarch Lu is still considered an outsider, having joined only recently, while the Seven Kingdoms Alliance holds a strong presence on an off-lying Spirit Island, causing friction with some forces, which Bihai Palace seems happy to see.

"Prepare well, next we go to Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea, then Bibo Island."

"Yes, Master!"

Lin Chang’an’s gaze remained calm; he hoped Bibo Island wouldn’t disappoint him.

...

Amid the fog-laden Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea, the isolation of Divine Sense by the mists became more severe. Even Core Formation cultivators dared not venture lightly.

One wrong step, and they could become disoriented, forever trapped here, ending in death, their remnant souls turning into part of the Yin Spirits here.

Yet, within an island’s interior, there appeared the rare presence of human cultivators.

The echoing sounds of battle, after a short while, completely vanished.

"As we venture deeper, the number of Tier Three Yin Spirits starts to surge; truly, this is a sacred place for countless Tribulation Cultivators and Demon Cultivators."

The Sun-piercing Divine Sword, wreathed in threads of flame, returned, and Lin Chang’an marked another spot on the Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea Map with a serious expression.

Indicating this island was cleared.

"Master, the island’s Yin Vein Spiritual Spring has a lot of top-quality Profound Water Liquid, and there’s a Spirit Stone mine almost exposed on the surface."

Upon the Sword Servant’s report, Lin Chang’an’s escape light reached deep into the island’s valley, discovering a Spirit Stone mine partially exposed.

"This quality seems quite good."

Upon seeing this, Lin Chang’an nodded in satisfaction and recorded the situation of this Spirit Island on his Heaven-Reaching Fog Sea Map once more.

The Spirit Stone vein, of decent quality, worthy of mining.

Such Spiritual Ore discoveries were plenty, some of lower quality, some producing Spiritual Ore externally; this one, possessing mining value, he had only found a few.

If this were the past, strength was one factor, and having no capability to mine, he could only note it down.

But now, things were different; once Bibo Island was secured, the strength of the Seven Kingdoms Alliance would be sufficient for mining.

After all, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance hadn’t had it easy these years and would definitely seize this opportunity to its fullest.

"Moreover, for deeper mining in the Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea, wouldn’t you need to purchase arrays for covert defense? Need high-level talismans for protection? Perhaps even a Magical Treasure."

After meticulous consideration, Lin Chang’an already had a plan in mind.

As a sword cultivator practicing the Evil Essence Sword Formulas, was it not reasonable to hunt Yin Spirit Beast Kings in the Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea?

To discover several Spirit Stone veins, reasonable, right?

Upon this thought, Lin Chang’an displayed a satisfied smile; this was the greatest profit.

These Spirit Ores weren’t being provided for free.

With his cultivation now, even as an Elder of the Profound Sound Pavilion, he had the strength to protect this wealth.

"Moo!"

In the distance, a Cyan-Horned Bull affectionately rubbed against the fur of a two-headed tiger, who in turn reciprocated the motion.

The two beasts missed each other dearly after many years apart.

Even the Sword Servant displayed a rare soft smile, feeding the two-headed tiger with spiritual objects.

As the two-headed tiger joyously enjoyed the treat, even the usually gluttonous Cyan-Horned Bull felt no envy.

Although it couldn’t speak human words, it knew the two-headed tiger hadn’t had as comfortable a life over the years as it had.