The Art of the Feint (Third Watch)

The two share many similar views.

The only difference lies in the inheritance of bloodlines and offspring.

As a long-lived person, Lan Chang'an might be reincarnated, so he didn't care about that.

Unless one becomes extremely powerful, they might not even consider it.

However, for ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators, the chances of the Golden Core Realm Formation stage are slim, and their lifespan is limited, so the continuation of their bloodline will still be considered.

Therefore, Lan Chang'an made it clear in advance.

Shi Manrong looked at the aloof and handsome man in white with clear and calm eyes.

"Daoist Lu's candor is rather disappointing!"

She bit her red lips lightly and said angrily:

"You really only care about taking advantage of me, without showing me any pity whatsoever?"

Lan Chang'an pondered, "This isn't a matter of mutual consent; it involves who benefits and who gains."

The Fairy Shi in His Eyes:

As a female cultivator living alone, she doesn't want to find dao companion. She just wants someone she can talk to, someone she has mutual feelings for, someone to temporarily relieve her emptiness and loneliness.

We will not discuss feelings, nor form dao companion, and we will not entangle ourselves with each other.

That's why Lan Chang'an didn't refuse.

Of course, at the very least, he must have some appreciation for her, and she must be a beautiful female cultivator with whom he has a compatible personality.

I'm going to check on Qiaozhi.

Lan Chang'an didn't mind and stood up.

Shi Manrong gazed at him, smiled sweetly, her face as radiant as the morning glow.

She moved gracefully and embraced Lan Chang'an from behind.

Her voice was clear, gentle, and charming. "Daoist Lu, you're overthinking it. I still have a long life ahead of me and don't want children so soon."

Lan Chang'an tensed slightly as he felt the woman's full, curvaceous figure.

Shi Manrong was unaware of how dangerous her actions were.

The man she was embracing possessed a physical strength comparable to Second-Order Middle-Grade Demon Beast.

If Lan Chang'an reacts too violently, this delicate body pressed against his skin will be instantly torn to pieces.

"Daoist Lu's words just now were very hurtful."

Seeing Shi Manrong, I felt a pang of pity for her, so I took her arm and slowly moved closer to her.

Lan Chang'an smelled the rich fragrance of night-blooming lilacs.

Then, she felt a warm touch on her cheek, a light, fleeting kiss from the Fairy Shi.

Unbeknownst to him, Lan Chang'an had pulled Fairy Shi into his arms, and the two grew increasingly close.

The moon outside the cave was temporarily obscured by dark clouds.

After a short while, like drinking a cup of tea.

"Daoist Lu, there's plenty of time in the future. Please know when to stop."

Shi Manrong seemed to catch her breath after suffocating, exhaling a long, fragrant breath, her face flushed and beautiful.

At this moment, her hair was disheveled, her hairpins were askew, and her clothes were in disarray.

With one leg slightly raised, the embroidered shoe slipped off, revealing Ice Silkworm White Silk Socks.

"You were the one who took the initiative, and now you're telling me to stop?"

Lan Chang'an inwardly grumbled as his hand, which was sliding down the beauty's waist, was pushed away.

With his strength, he could easily overpower someone.

However, Lan Chang'an pursues mutual consent and amicable separation, never forcing a woman's will.

Shi Manrong bent down to put on the embroidered shoes, revealing her graceful and slender curves.

She straightened her dress and hair, regaining her dignified and elegant appearance, and gave Lan Chang'an an apologetic smile.

"I'll go brew a pot of hangover tea."

"Um."

Lan Chang'an understood at this moment.

It must be said that Fairy Shi played the game of feigning indifference very well, giving a little sweetness while remaining aloof.

I didn't intend to give it to him today.

It has nothing to do with Lan Chang'an's previous disappointing remarks.

Previously, Shi Manrong had sat on his lap and then made an excuse to leave, all to create suspense and a sense of crisis that the deliciousness was fleeting.

Such tactics, like feeding fish bait, are indeed effective at whetting a man's appetite.

Unless their status exceeds the required level, most male cultivators will be completely under their control.

Unfortunately, Lan Chang'an was no ordinary person.

Compared to his cultivation career, even if he spent a few years with Fairy Shi, it would only be a small diversion in his long life, something that could be dispensable.

Lan Chang'an calmly took a sip of the spiritual tea.

He then went to the next room and picked up the sleeping Guan Qiaozhi.

"Fairy Shi, I apologize for disturbing you today."

Lan Chang'an took his leave.

Shi Manrong looked at his retreating figure, a hint of surprise flashing in her clear eyes, before she fell into thought.

"Lan Chang'an is not only indifferent to romantic relationships, but he also knows how to control them with ease."

Shi Manrong that the feigned indifference she had just displayed would have made an ordinary man impatient long ago.

They either express genuine feelings and promise benefits, or they use rude, semi-coercive tactics, leaving the victim feeling resentful after failure.

This shows that Lan Chang'an's temperament and character are different from those of ordinary men.

The next day, early morning.

Guan Qiaozhi woke up early to attend to Lan Chang'an's daily needs.

"Brother Lu, you and Senior Sister are a perfect match. You're both Foundation Establishment cultivators with second-tier skills. You can help each other on your Dao Path."

Guan Qiaozhi's eyes were slightly red. After hesitating for a long time, she finally spoke.

"Senior sister, you can be my official dao companion, and I'll be your concubine or maid. Just don't send me away."

Guan Qiaozhi wasn't stupid; she had some guesses about why he fell asleep drunk last night.

Lan Chang'an was speechless, and comforted him:

"Don't tell me I wouldn't marry and form a dao companion. Even if I had that thought, your priority is higher than hers."

"Real?"

Guan Qiaozhi's eyes lit up with unexpected surprise.

Lan Chang'an nodded in confirmation.

Guan Qiaozhi was a female disciple entrusted by Daoist Guan. She served him diligently for many years and helped him with drawing talismans and managing his cave.

He's a very caring person in my life.

How could Shi Manrong's fleeting, possible affair compare?

Lan Chang'an was performing his routine cultivation.

Guan Qiaozhi went outside the cave to tend to the flowers and plants, and directed her two Spirit Pet to do the work.

Half an hour later.

Shi Manrong came to visit, wearing a long lotus leaf dress, which made her look fresh and elegant.

After finishing his cultivation, Lan Chang'an walked out of the cave.

The two sat down in the pavilion by the pond and chatted idly.

Last night, I tossed and turned all night, unable to sleep.

Shi Manrong sighed softly; her face did indeed look somewhat haggard.

"What's on your mind, Fairy Shi?"

Lan Chang'an remained unmoved.

Shi Manrong's tactics last night, her alluring yet elusive approach, suggest she might want something from him.

"Daoist Lu, Manrong was abrupt and rude last night. Could you allow me to stay at your residence for a few nights as an attempt to make amends?"

Shi Manrong's gaze was deep and her voice was soft and pleading.

How many nights will you be staying at my place?

Lan Chang'an instantly understood the other party's intention: Dream on!

"To avoid suspicion, I do not allow female cultivators to stay overnight in my residence, especially beauties like Fairy Shi."

Lan Chang'an refused.

"May I come over for a visit during the day?"

"No."

"You... you're truly heartless..."

Shi Manrong a deep breath and said resentfully.

Thinking back to last night, Lan Chang'an was so close to her, lingering for a long time, and took advantage of her quite a bit.

Today's issue involves formations; we will not yield an inch.

"Fairy Shi, is that array in my residence really that important to you?"

Lan Chang'an was surprised and couldn't understand it either.

That protective formation from my Previous Life, although evolved from High Antiquity third-order formation, was at best relatively strong among second-order formations.

Even if a formation genius like Shi Manrong is attractive, it wouldn't warrant such obsession.

He refused to let the other party explore because it involved his own safety and privacy.

Once Lan Chang'an reaches the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage or higher, Treasure Talisman has been nurtured for many years, the effectiveness of this formation will be greatly reduced.

"That formation is related to the bottleneck I'm facing in the study of formations."

Shi Manrong smiled gracefully and explained.

Lan Chang'an was skeptical; the reason seemed a bit far-fetched. He also had some knowledge of formations.

In the following months...

On Small Turtle Peak, a number of Puppet appeared one after another, all of them being of mid-to-lower grade first rank.

Guan Qiaozhi controls the Puppet to work on the mountain, saving time and effort.

At this time, Lan Chang'an had been practicing the Puppet tradition for nearly ten years, and his skills had reached the first-tier superior level.

He wants to proceed gradually and reveal his skills with some reservation.

First-tier, low-grade Puppet are not very powerful in combat, but if they are affordable, they are attractive to Rogue Cultivator in the surrounding area.

In addition, it can be bundled with second-tier Talisman for sale, recovering costs while generating some profit.

In any case, second-tier Talisman are very scarce, and Small Turtle Peak is in short supply.

After all, he was just drawing the talisman by himself, so the amount he used had to be reasonable and not obviously excessive.

"At this rate, my Puppet skills will reach the second tier in less than twenty years."

Lan Chang'an's talent in Puppet might even slightly surpass his talent in talisman-making.

His Divine Sense is strong, almost at the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, which provides a significant boost.

Lan Chang'an has already crafted three first-tier high-grade Puppet, but they are no longer of any use to his current cultivation level and body refinement strength.

He decided to leave it to Guan Qiaozhi for self-defense.

On this day, Zhang Tieshan paid a visit to Lin Lu to discuss the matter of "borrowing Spirit Stone for Lin Lu's Foundation Establishment".

Lan Chang'an took out two hundred Spirit Stone, plus some materials needed for Foundation Establishment, which amounted to five hundred Spirit Stone.

Lending out 500 Spirit Stone actually carries risks.

If Lin Lu successfully Foundation Establishment, repaying the debt will be a given.

The Foundation Establishment failed, severely damaging the company's vitality and leaving it heavily indebted. It will take many years to repay the debts.

If, unfortunately, one dies Foundation Establishment, then all the effort will be wasted.

While the Foundation Establishment can strengthen and protect the meridians of the dantian, it only significantly reduces the risk.

If the attacker Qi Deviation and forces their way through, there is still a chance of death.

The risk is higher for older people due to aging.

Fortunately, Lin Lu is under sixty years old, so as long as he doesn't do anything reckless, the probability of him dying is not high.

"Brother Zhang, what are the ways to obtain Tier 3 spirit wood?"

Lan Chang'an inquired about it casually.

Zhang Tieshan's answer provided a new perspective.

Besides the Green Bamboo Sect, other places where Tier 3 spirit trees can reliably appear include the Moon-Gazing Immortal City and the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.

Moon-Gazing Immortal City, located on the border of the Liang Kingdom, is a trading center for several surrounding countries.

There Core Formation True Person gathered, and even traces of the Nascent Soul Realm were not uncommon.

The city is far away, and the surrounding area is inhabited by powerful and terrifying cultivators.

The Azure Underworld Secret Realm is a secret realm native to the Cultivation World of the Liang Kingdom, opening once every fifty years.

The secret realm retains its High Antiquity appearance and contains many heavenly materials and earthly treasures, including the main ingredients for Foundation Establishment and Longevity Pill.

fortuitous opportunity to break through to the next stage in the Foundation Establishment Late Stage phase, and even Golden Core Realm objects for Core Formation, may exist in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm.

Tier 3 spirit wood, which has been leaked out of the secret realm many times.

The Azure Underworld Secret Realm is only accessible to those below the True Person level, and it will be at least a decade before it reopens.

"In the Moon-Gazing Immortal City, there are beings at the Golden Core Realm and the Nascent Soul. Once an accident occurs, their fate is out of their control."

"The Azure Underworld Secret Realm requires Foundation Establishment cultivators to enter and fight, which is not suitable for me."

Lan Chang'an temporarily abandoned these two options.

Half a year has passed since Wuqi Mountain.

On this day, Lan Chang'an turned eighty-one years old, entering his twilight years.

Yellow Dragon Immortal City is hosting another large-scale auction.

This time, Lan Chang'an disguised himself and became one of the mysterious people to participate in the auction.

Purchasing Longevity Pill and Second-Order High-Grade or higher spirit wood multiple times would appear unusual.

Lan Chang'an was quite lucky at this auction.

At the same time, I also bought Second-Order Longevity Pill and Second-Order High-Grade Spirit Wood.

Unfortunately.

He didn't have many Spirit Stone left, so he had to sell some Talisman.

The piece of second-tier spirit wood I bought was slightly less spiritual, but it was several times thicker than the Golden Nan Spirit Bamboo.

Lan Chang'an estimated that even if the lack of spirituality reduced the success rate, at least five or six Treasure Talisman could be made.

As for the third-tier spirit wood, there is still no news from Yellow Dragon Immortal City.

Lan Chang'an wrote a letter and sent it to the Green Bamboo Sect to sound out Chen Fuhai.

(End of this chapter)