Analysis and Preparation

The Lingnan Cultivation Land had three major powers: the Azure Cloud Sect, the Mysterious Yin Gate, and the East Sea Rogue Cultivator Alliance.

Of them, the Azure Cloud Sect and the Mysterious Yin Gate were hostile toward one another. The two wars that had erupted in the Lingnan Cultivation World had both been started by these two sects, before the terrifying flames of war swept the East Sea Rogue Cultivator Alliance into them as well.

Especially during the Second Cultivation War, the three sides had deployed nearly a hundred thousand cultivators in total, plunging several million mortals into boundless warfare.

Rumor had it that more than five Golden Core True Persons had clashed at the border between the three powers. In that horrifying battle, Golden Core True Persons had even fallen!

Even after the war ended, the regions it had ravaged saw their terrain altered, and they had not recovered even after more than a century.

And if war broke out once more, what consequences would it bring?

Wu Xueting's breathing caught. She did not dare speak of it, much less think about it.

She had never experienced war, and had rarely even fought, but she still knew how terrifying war was.

White bones lay exposed across the wilderness, blood flowed into rivers, and a thousand miles of land were scorched red. In a war between cultivators, even that was probably considered mild.

Moreover, once war began, the entire Lingnan Cultivation World would be swallowed by endless flames. By then, even lofty Golden Core True Persons would risk falling, let alone a mere Qi Refining Stage Cultivator like her!

The fear of death was something no one could escape.

"Fellow Daoist, aren't you worrying too much..." Wu Xueting swallowed, her delicate body trembling slightly. "It's only that the price of talismans has kept rising. What can that possibly reveal? And Cloud Arrival Market is merely one market under the jurisdiction of the Azure Cloud Upper Sect. Why should rising talisman prices in its market have anything to do with the battle between the two sects?"

Lin Chen turned his head slightly and glanced at her before asking, "Which side of the Azure Cloud Sect is the Mysterious Yin Gate on?"

"The west."

"And which side of the Azure Cloud Sect is Cloud Arrival Market on?"

"...Also the west."

"Who stands behind the shops in the market?"

"The Azure Cloud... Sect?" Wu Xueting answered hesitantly.

"The Azure Cloud Sect is the main body supplying resources to the entire market, and the number of talismans it releases into the market is kept at a certain level. Now do you understand?" Lin Chen gave Wu Xueting a deep look.

Wu Xueting froze. After thinking carefully for a moment, she quickly understood what Lin Chen meant.

As the market west of the Azure Cloud Sect, Cloud Arrival Market was not only a place for cultivators to trade. Its shops also bore the burden of transporting resources and conducting trade between the Azure Cloud Sect headquarters and the frontline defenses.

When demand for talismans at the front increased, the number of talismans in the rear would naturally decrease if the overall supply remained unchanged.

Thus, any change at the front would create ripples in Cloud Arrival Market through a Butterfly Effect.

Therefore, among the Four Major Markets around the Azure Cloud Sect, Cloud Arrival Market was the place most likely to sense changes in the situation between the Two Sects!

And that was why Lin Chen sold talismans in Cloud Arrival Market!

"But... that still isn't right. If a war is about to begin, there's no reason for talisman prices to rise while pill prices remain unchanged!" Wu Xueting raised another question.

"The Azure Cloud Sect probably hasn't made preparations to go to war yet. Besides, the frontline's stockpile of pills is sufficient—perhaps they haven't been used up for the moment..." Lin Chen said calmly.

"Of course, the most crucial point is that talismans are tools that assist in battle. They are important, but they are not fundamental."

"But pills are different. Cultivation, healing injuries, fleeing for one's life—everything requires them. They can be called the foundation of a cultivator. Do you think that, at a Crucial Moment, the Azure Cloud Sect would allow the free market to regulate the prices of such things?"

"This..." Having figured that out, the ominous premonition in Wu Xueting's heart grew ever stronger. "The Azure Cloud Upper Sect and the Mysterious Yin Demonic Sect are evenly matched. This war can't possibly start, can it?"

Being evenly matched was precisely why the two sects could coexist peacefully. Otherwise, Lingnan would never have been as calm as it appeared on the surface.

"We are merely insignificant people. How could we possibly know the true comparison of strength between the two sects, or the changes between them?" Lin Chen shook his head lightly and continued his analysis.

"Although I don't know what exactly has happened, the friction between the two sides must be intensifying. Otherwise, why would a relatively safe market see the prices of Life-Saving Talismans across the entire market rise one after another?"

"So I speculate that the two sects are currently in a stage where their friction is heating up, and the struggles between the cultivators under their command are escalating..."

"If this continues, the situation may develop in two possible directions. If the two sects are evenly matched, then neither sect will likely start a war lightly. Once the friction reaches a certain point, they will make a move to stop it. That would be the ideal outcome..."

"But if there is an imbalance in the strength of the two sects, then the friction will likely escalate further. When that time comes..."

Lin Chen stopped there. The room fell silent, and both people present knew what would happen next.

"Then, in Fellow Daoist's view, what should we do now?" Wu Xueting stood rooted to the original place after hearing this. Only after a while did she come back to her senses and ask.

"Make the best preparations for the worst possibility. Only then will you have sufficient means to respond when trouble comes." Lin Chen watched the nightscape beyond the window for a moment and spoke calmly, his tone composed.

It was as though even news of war could not disturb his state of mind.

"The first thing we can be sure of is that war will not begin in the short term." Lin Chen's gaze shifted as he continuously analyzed the existing situation, while rapidly adjusting his plans for the future in his heart.

"Although talisman prices in the market have been rising continuously, the increase is not high. Coupled with the stable prices of pills and Spirit Artifacts, no one would notice anything unusual unless they were deliberately paying attention. This shows that the Azure Cloud Sect has not yet made preparations for war..."

"So...?" Wu Xueting asked hesitantly.

Lin Chen ignored her and stroked his chin in thought.

Unlike my previous life, in a cultivator war, the role of individuals occupies the main body. If I want to survive the war, I can only do so by possessing greater strength. And if I want to increase my strength, resources are the key... Lin Chen's thoughts paused as he recalled the novels he had read in his previous life. A thought emerged in his heart. Perhaps I can...

"Stockpile talismans." Lin Chen turned around and said so.

"Ah?" Wu Xueting quickly reacted. "Fellow Daoist wants to make a fortune from war?"

"Our strength cannot bear the price of making a great fortune from war." Lin Chen shook his head.

He naturally understood that, no matter which world one was in, making a fortune from war required sufficient strength.

"However, we can use the time difference to make a small profit. Most importantly, we can take this opportunity to secure various precious talismans to protect ourselves."

"This..." Wu Xueting hesitated upon hearing this.

Although Lin Chen's analysis sounded quite reasonable, stockpiling talismans was no simple matter for small shops like theirs. If their judgment proved wrong, the losses...

"I have said all I need to say. Whether you believe it or not, whether you act or not, is entirely up to you." Lin Chen saw through her thoughts at a glance and spoke calmly.

"However, I will stop supplying talismans from now on."

Having realized that war was a possibility, Lin Chen naturally would not continue selling spirit talismans. He would store them away for his own use instead.

"This!" Wu Xueting's expression changed. She still wanted to say something to persuade him, but Lin Chen simply turned and left.

As far as he was concerned, given their many years of good business dealings, offering her a warning was already the utmost of his duty.

As for her losses and safety, they were utterly beyond the scope of his concern!

As for whether this would hurt her pride or affect future cooperation, Lin Chen had never cared.

In this Cultivation World, as long as you possessed skill and strength, others had always been the ones who watched your expression before acting!

Before long, Lin Chen left the Treasure Talisman Shop and arrived on the main street.

As he looked at the bustling crowds, a trace of worry flashed through his eyes.

'War...' Lin Chen murmured. The faint sound had barely left his lips before it vanished into the lively street.

He was only a Qi Refining Stage Cultivator. When faced with a war in the Cultivation World, he was as powerless as an ordinary person facing war in his previous life.

To preserve himself in a war, Lin Chen estimated that he would need, at the very least, the strength of the Foundation Establishment Realm—and that was only if he avoided the front lines!

'I can find a mission to guard a mortal dynasty and hide away before clear signs of war appear. But once the war begins, a disciple like me, with neither power nor influence and no one above me to back me, will definitely be dragged back as cannon fodder...'

'Of course, I could take the chance to flee. But the problem is, whether Azure Cloud Sect or Mysterious Yin Gate wins in the end, I'll become wanted—either because they want to deal with traitors, or because they want to wipe out every last root...'

'Resources in the Lingnan Cultivation World are already scarce, and the region is heavily sealed off. If I'm hunted down on top of that...'

Lin Chen pondered it over and over, but in the end, he still felt that before the overwhelming tide of conflict between the Two Sects, any clever scheme or trick was useless. To change the situation, he could only break it with strength!

'Looks like I need to find a way to increase my strength and buy Defense Spirit Artifacts and healing pills in advance. Not only that, I also need to prepare a trump card for a counterkill...' Lin Chen sighed.

Once signs of war emerged, the prices of these items would absolutely soar through the roof. Buying them in advance would reduce his loss of Spirit Stones.

'Besides This, I need to buy spirit herbs for research... but all of that costs Spirit Stones!' At that thought, Lin Chen's face could not help but twitch.

'Looks like some research projects will have to stop... Damn it, other transmigrators eat Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures like meals. Why is it that when it comes to me, I have to pinch every penny...'

'Should I take out the Soul Nurturing Incense and sell it? Small quantities would be fine, but if I sell too much and people guess that I have the prescription, that would be a huge problem... Or should I sell the improved Magic Trick Template?'

'But the problem is, once this thing is put out there, I'll inevitably attract attention. Though I've made preparations in advance, the risk remains. So... should I gamble or not?'

With that thought, Lin Chen hesitated for a moment, but soon made his decision and began to act.

Following a particular route, weaving around crisscrossing streets, and passing through the flow of people, Lin Chen quickly arrived before a shop.

The building stood five stories high and three zhang wide. Its carved beams and painted rafters, green tiles and vermilion eaves made it a sight of extraordinary beauty.

Those entering and leaving were either dressed in splendid clothing or carried a deep, unfathomable aura. They came and went through the main entrance, making the place exceedingly lively.

Lin Chen stopped, raised his head, and saw several grand characters written in a flying-dragon, dancing-phoenix style upon a yellow rosewood plaque inlaid with gold thread and jade: Hundred Treasures Tower!

Lin Chen glanced around, then unhurriedly walked into the shop.

The moment he entered, a row of counters made from precious red sandalwood greeted him. Crystal-polished display cases reflected dazzling light. Inside the counters sat all kinds of items—spirit talismans, spirit artifacts, pills, and more. It could be said that they dealt in a dazzling array of goods.

Lin Chen swept his gaze around, gave a few instructions to the shop attendant beside him, then headed for the second floor. The first floor only sold ordinary goods; the true fine items were all on the second floor.

Just as he reached the second floor, an Old Man with white hair and a youthful face, kind brows and benevolent eyes, dressed in luxurious robes, came forward to greet him.

The moment he approached, he heard the other man laugh heartily. "So Fellow Daoist Zhang has graced us with his presence! This humble shop is truly honored by your visit. Whatever you wish to purchase, Fellow Daoist, simply give the word, and I will arrange it immediately."

Unmoved by his flattery, Lin Chen looked around and said evenly, "Zhang Mou does indeed have some things he wishes to buy, but Manager Fang, this does not seem like a suitable place to talk, does it?"

"Oh my, Fellow Daoist is right. It seems I truly have become muddleheaded with age." Manager Fang slapped his forehead and hurriedly apologized, then led Lin Chen upstairs.

Manager Fang led Lin Chen into an antiquely decorated room. After they sat down and he brewed a cup of Spiritual Tea, he smiled and asked, "What would Fellow Daoist like to purchase?"

"Defense Spirit Artifacts and Second-tier Talismans." Lin Chen stared into his eyes and spoke softly.

"Second-tier Talismans?"

Manager Fang Mingyuan took a light sip of Spiritual Tea. Upon hearing Lin Chen speak, the hand holding his teacup paused.

"Fellow Daoist Zhang, this shop does have Defense Spirit Artifacts. But please forgive us, we cannot sell Second-tier Talismans. On the market, such items are contraband."

"What?" Lin Chen was stunned upon hearing this.