A Surprising Harvest

Two hours later.

In a ravine in the Black Mist Mountain Range.

"We have a suspect, and we have Evil Dao killer. Surely they wouldn't suspect a kind-hearted person like me Longevity Cultivation Art."

Lan Chang'an leaned against the stone wall like a withered tree branch, recalling the operation and wondering if there had been any oversights.

Xiang Jinglong had previously clashed with Alchemist Hua, killing him and stealing his treasure, but was later frightened away by the Talisman Treasure.

This person had every motive to commit murder, and the suspect will inevitably bear some responsibility.

Although Alchemist Hua possessed Talisman Treasure, Xiang Jinglong was no ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage. If the sneak attack was well-timed, the deceased would not have the opportunity to use the Talisman Treasure.

Lan Chang'an felt uneasy about having only one suspect.

Xiang Jinglong might be able to produce an alibi and various explanations.

So, they dragged Liang Shaotian into the mess as well.

Li Hai, Liang Shaotian's eldest disciple, caused a great disturbance in the Azure Underworld Secret Realm and appeared in the surrounding area. This happened not long ago, in full view of everyone.

These kinds of Evil Dao individuals kill and plunder in secret realms, and then casually slaughter a fat Alchemist outside; there's no need to look for any logic or motive.

The murder was committed by Evil Cultivator, the suspect is Xiang Jinglong, who has a bad reputation, the situation is chaotic and difficult to clarify.

"Alchemist Hua is ultimately just a Rogue Cultivator who associates with the upper echelons, but is not a direct descendant of Yellow Dragon Mountain."

Lan Chang'an pondered.

With Alchemist Hua dead, there are suspects and scapegoats, and it's unlikely that powerful figures would bother with a thorough investigation for an outsider like him.

Both Alchemist Hua and Yellow Dragon Mountain have many potential enemies.

The direct line of Yellow Dragon Mountain consists of only three True Person. Managing such a vast Immortal City, coupled with difficulties and hostile forces, leaves them with no spare time.

Yellow Dragon Immortal City has been declining in recent years.

With the opening of this secret realm, three of the five late-stage Foundation Establishment elites from True Person Yellow Dragon's lineage were lost, adding insult to injury.

Lan Chang'an had previously sensed that True Person Yellow Dragon was only ninety years or so, that he had passed his prime and was in a period of decline.

Against this backdrop, the timing was more opportune for him to target Alchemist Hua than it had been twenty years ago.

"One Talisman Treasure... one main ingredient of the Youth Preservation Pill... one special demon core..."

Lan Chang'an checked Alchemist Hua's Storage Bag, his eyes shining brightly with delight.

The spoils from killing Alchemist Hua gave him a wonderful surprise.

Needless to say, Talisman Treasure.

A powerful weapon for the Foundation Establishment Realm cultivators; it appears capable of being activated twice more.

It seems that Xiang Jinglong sold the main ingredients of his Youth Preservation Pill and the special demon core to Alchemist Hua, and then set his sights on the latter after the transaction.

These two items represent the two most essential ingredients of the Youth Preservation Pill and the Foundation Establishment.

Even after purchasing these two items, Alchemist Hua still had two or three thousand Spirit Stone in his Storage Bag.

Two top-grade magical Law Artifact, one for offense and one for defense.

There are two second-tier Pill Furnace, one of which is of superior quality.

A large quantity of medicinal herbs for alchemy.

The most valuable items are still those bottles and jars.

Lan Chang'an roughly estimated that there were twenty or thirty bottles of second-tier pills.

Two of the bottles are quite valuable.

"Two Jade Clarity Pill will help you break through your bottleneck and advance to the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage."

"Three Blood Sun Pill can significantly enhance Foundation Establishment cultivator's Law Power for a short period. The side effect is the depletion of vital energy, causing temporary weakness. However, timely recuperation will prevent damage to the foundation."

The Jade Clarity Pill is considered Breakthrough Pill those in the Foundation Establishment Middle Stage, and it is extremely rare for many Foundation Establishment Realm, such as Mu Renlong back then.

However, this pill was of little significance to Lan Chang'an.

Based on his experience in the Qi Refining Realm, he could easily break through this minor bottleneck in his Evergreen Art when the time was right.

However, the Blood Sun Pill, which amplifies Law Power, is somewhat useful to Lan Chang'an.

"Xiang Jinglong still has the main ingredient of the Second-Order Longevity Pill. Alchemist Hua didn't buy it, so he must have taken the Second-Order Longevity Pill before," Lan Chang'an speculated.

Alchemist Hua bought the main ingredient of the Youth Preservation Pill, probably hoping to curry favor with and ingratiate himself with those in power.

After inventorying the spoils and destroying any unidentified items,

Lan Chang'an made a slight detour around the outer edge of the Black Mist Mountain Range and arrived at the Broken Mouth Canyon on the west side, which was the same road he had come from.

Subsequently, Lan Chang'an used a second-tier Acceleration Talisman to return to Wuqi Mountain at the normal travel time.

Whoosh!

From the Wuqi Mountain, a dignified and beautiful woman in a moon-colored dress flew out.

"Fairy Shi."

Lan Chang'an greeted him.

"Talismans Master Lu." Shi Manrong nodded and paused to exchange a few words.

Their current relationship is similar to that of ordinary fellow Daoists, yet it also carries an inexplicable subtlety.

This stems mainly from what Shi Manrong mentioned two years ago: the suicide note she wrote before falling into a coma.

At that time, Lan Chang'an was surprised and only believed it to a certain extent.

They pretended not to know and brushed it off with a perfunctory excuse.

Fortunately, Shi Manrong did not pursue the matter to the end, but rather adopted a forward-looking attitude.

"Fairy Shi, where are we going?"

Lan Chang'an asked casually.

"Yellow Dragon Immortal City." Shi Manrong didn't hide it and flew away through the air.

Despite losing some of her memories, Shi Manrong remained largely unchanged, still dignified, elegant, and refined.

The difference is that she no longer engages in any seductive or ambiguous behavior towards Lan Chang'an.

In addition, he is more optimistic than before, more career-oriented, and frequently goes out to plan strategies.

Back at Small Turtle Peak, Lan Chang'an took a relaxing bath.

This trip to the secret realm yielded items such as third-tier spirit wood, third-tier Profound Iron Crystal, and Black Ink Rock, which slightly exceeded expectations.

He unexpectedly encountered Alchemist Hua, successfully avenged himself, and gained amazing rewards—a truly delightful surprise.

Killing Alchemist Hua meant that half of the grudge from years ago for obstructing his path had been resolved.

Several days later.

Lan Chang'an asked Guan Qiaozhi to help him obtain materials from the third-grade mid-level "Purple Glare Spirit Wood" to make the Treasure Talisman embryo.

Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun can assist with this matter.

However, Lan Chang'an trusted Guan Qiaozhi more.

That piece of Purple Glare Spirit Wood, after removing the dead bark and the parts without spiritual energy, is estimated to be enough to make seven or eight Treasure Talisman embryos.

"Using a mid-grade third-tier base material would be a waste given my current cultivation level and talisman skills."

Lan Chang'an was mentally prepared, so he first made a talisman blank and then drew the Treasure Talisman.

This type of base material Talisman Paper can be used to draw Tier 3 Talisman.

Lan Chang'an was mainly limited by his cultivation level, so he could only "downgrade" his painting style and try to move towards the third tier.

Ultimately, the first Treasure Talisman drawn reached the Quasi-Third-Order level, and its power was comparable to that of an entry-level Talisman Treasure.

Each time Lan Chang'an drew a talisman, he would summon the soul of his First Life, once every two months.

"It's a bit of a waste, but it can be nurtured continuously, and its power has great potential to increase."

Lan Chang'an stopped there.

He only planned to draw three of these downgraded, Quasi-Third-Order Treasure Talisman.

The remaining "Purple Glare Spirit Wood" was sealed away and occasionally nourished with Evergreen Mana to prevent its vitality and spirituality from being lost.

Once your cultivation reaches the Foundation Establishment Late Stage, then you can attempt to draw a true third-tier Treasure Talisman.

Moon Empress.

Alchemist Lin Ye from Small Pill Peak, paid a visit.

Lan Chang'an knew perfectly well why the other party had come.

Lin Ye had more silver strands in his hair, and his slightly dry face was covered with red spots.

"Daoist Lu, have you heard the news of Hua Heng's death?"

He had just sat down when he delivered the good news, his expression complex.

There was a sense of catharsis and relief, but afterwards, a trace of emptiness and loneliness shone deep in his eyes.

"Alchemist Hua is dead?"

Lan Chang'an's expression shifted slightly, and the teacup in his hand rippled with water.

Alchemist Hua died near the entrance to the Black Blood Road, and Lan Chang'an left him with half of his corpse.

Several months passed before the news was confirmed, which was within Lan Chang'an's expectations.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, how did Alchemist Hua die?"

Lan Chang'an was incredulous and immediately asked.

During this process, Lin Ye paid attention to his expression.

There is no definitive conclusion yet. Rumors suggest that the murderer may be a member of Liang Shaotian's faction.

"In addition, Xiang Jinglong, a notorious figure in the Liang Kingdom's Rogue Cultivator circle, is also a suspect. He has a history of murder and robbery, and had previously clashed with Hua Heng."

"Yellow Dragon Immortal City did not pursue or issue an arrest Xiang Jinglong?"

Lan Chang'an regained his composure and inquired rationally.

"No."

A mocking smile appeared on Lin Ye's face as he sneered:

"After my junior brother died, his wives, children, disciples, and followers were all busy fighting over the family's inheritance."

Upon hearing this, Lan Chang'an remained silent for a moment.

With Alchemist Hua dead, even his family and disciples show no enthusiasm for investigating or seeking revenge. Are they really expecting outsiders to offer their full assistance?

Even if you have the intention.

Alchemist Hua was likely killed by Liang Shaotian's lineage. How can he avenge himself?

The suspect, Xiang Jinglong, is also a ruthless individual with strength exceeding that of ordinary Foundation Establishment Late Stage, and is expected to reach the False Core.

Yellow Dragon Immortal City is no longer as prosperous as it once was.

If it's not necessary, I don't want to offend such a ruthless, independent Rogue Cultivator who has no ties to his cause.

Lan Chang'an felt relieved.

The death of Alchemist Hua has thus brought this matter to a close.

Even in the worst-case scenario— that Fu Xuemei is neurotic and still harbors a sliver of suspicion towards Lan Chang'an —there is no guarantee that she will survive.

But as long as Liang Shaotian's lineage and Xiang Jinglong, those two formidable figures, stand in the way.

She offered no reasonable explanation and could hardly influence the True Person of the Yellow Dragon Mountain lineage.

True Person Yellow Dragon may value geniuses with undeveloped Earth Spiritual Root, but he doesn't have the kind of say they might have.

Lan Chang'an had heard that Fu Xuemei had helped her younger brother at all costs back then, which displeased True Person Yellow Dragon, who cut off her resource supply for a period of time.

As for Fu Xuemei coming to him personally? Lan Chang'an wasn't afraid at all.

"Daoist Lu, Hua Heng died on the way from the Azure Underworld Secret Realm to the Black Mist Mountain Range. I heard you also went to the secret realm, but didn't see him there?"

Lin Ye asked again.

His intuition about his junior brother's death was somewhat strange; he had an instinctive desire to investigate the truth.

"I have never seen Alchemist Hua near the secret realm, nor have I heard anyone mention that he has ever been here."

Lan Chang'an shook his head.

At that time, Alchemist Hua disguised his identity; on the surface, he genuinely had never met Alchemist Hua.

"Oh? You've never seen him before?"

Lin Ye seemed to understand something, guessing that his junior brother had gone outside the secret realm to stake out and acquire materials, thus concealing his identity.

Looking at the Second-Order High-Grade Alchemist before him, Lan Chang'an thought of the main ingredient of the Youth Preservation Pill and the second-tier special demon core he had obtained from Alchemist Hua's spoils of war.

In the former case, he only needs to provide the main ingredient to find someone to collaborate with in refining the Youth Preservation Pill.

The latter only requires him to collect a few more rare auxiliary medicines to gather the materials for the Foundation Establishment and make a fortune.

"However, both of these main ingredients are stolen goods. The special demon core is better, but the main ingredient of the Youth Preservation Pill is even rarer."

Lan Chang'an was worried that someone would see through his scheme, and he also had some reservations about Xiang Jinglong.

Both of these main ingredients were sold by Xiang Jinglong to Alchemist Hua, and only a few people knew about them.

At least, these two items cannot be taken out at the same time in the short term.

Unless you find a discreet Alchemist to secretly refine the elixir.

Alchemist Lin is clearly unsuitable, as he has a strong desire to investigate the circumstances of his junior brother's death.

Six months later.

A year has passed since the secret realm opened.

The death of Alchemist Hua was left unresolved, and even in Yellow Dragon Immortal City, few people discussed it.

Before he knew it, Lan Chang'an had turned ninety-seven.

On this day, the Earth Rock Rat brought a letter, which was sent by Li Erqing.

Li Erqing asked: When does Lan Chang'an plan to celebrate his Centennial Birthday Banquet?

He will come to offer his congratulations and bring his children to show their respect.

If he finds it too much trouble, the Mu Family is willing to help him organize a grand banquet for his Centennial Birthday Banquet.

(End of this chapter)