How Is This How You Repay Uncle Lin?

Green Bamboo Mountain Market, rear mountain.

"Old Man He, you were truly blessed. Even after death, someone gave you a proper burial."

In the fine rain, Lin Chang'an had gone out to purchase some supplies. On his way back, he happened to pass the rear mountain and came to take a look at Old Man He's grave.

Who knew how many cultivators in the Cultivation World died without even a place to be buried.

Yet just as Lin Chang'an shook his head and prepared to leave, he seemed to notice something and narrowed his eyes.

"This is... someone has been here!"

Before Old Man He's grave, although someone had deliberately erased the traces, the weeds around it had clearly been cleared away.

"Could Old Man He have had other relatives?"

Lin Chang'an was astonished. He clearly remembered that all of Old Man He's relatives were dead. Surely no one would be kind-hearted enough to come clear the rear mountain?

"Could someone have even cried at the wrong grave!?"

With a grave expression, Lin Chang'an saw that the cleared weeds had obviously been removed by hand.

He gripped a Wood Spirit Thorn in his hand, while a top-grade Golden Light Talisman tucked within his Dharma Robe was already primed to strike.

Damn it, one really should not visit graves for no reason. It was too easy to run into ghosts!

Had Cultivator Bandits fallen so low that they now lay in wait by graves?

Under the fine rain, Lin Chang'an narrowed his eyes and pretended to be unconcerned, while secretly swearing that even if he passed by this place in the future, he would never again come to the graves.

In the fine rain, after Lin Chang'an's figure vanished into the distance, a person wearing a bamboo hat slowly emerged from beneath a large tree on the rear mountain.

"Uncle Lin."

Beneath that hoarse voice, the figure under the bamboo hat was unexpectedly He Yan.

Old Man He's grandson—the He Yan rumored to have already died.

Yet He Yan no longer had the youthful recklessness and high spirits of old. Strands of gray streaked his temples, and the corners of his eyes bore marks of hardship.

He was plainly a middle-aged man.

Lin Chang'an hurried all the way home. After finding that no one was following him, he became somewhat suspicious.

"The Market has been far too chaotic lately. I need to be more careful these days."

Yet just as Lin Chang'an returned to his courtyard, a Jade Talisman shimmering with spiritual light slowly appeared, along with a Jade Slip.

"A Sound Recording Jade Talisman! Who is this wasteful!"

Lin Chang'an was astonished. A single Sound Recording Jade Talisman cost one Spirit Stone. Only Sects and cultivators from certain great Lineages used them; ordinary cultivators would never do so.

"This is!"

No cultivator's voice came from the Sound Recording Jade Talisman. Yet the Jade Slip beneath it contained the inheritance of the Fireball Talisman.

"Tier 1 Complete Fireball Talisman Inheritance!"

Yet upon seeing this windfall that had fallen from the sky, Lin Chang'an's first reaction was to be on guard.

But after checking it again and again, he discovered that it truly was the complete First Tier Fireball Talisman inheritance.

"This..."

The incomplete mark on the back of the Jade Talisman, along with the character "He," connected every clue in Lin Chang'an's mind.

"Could Old Man He's boasting back then have actually been true!"

Old Man He had once boasted that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator had emerged from his ancestors, though his family had declined after several generations.

Lin Chang'an fell silent, seemingly having already guessed something.

He Yan was not dead, but he had not returned, nor had he joined Li Fire Palace.

That gave him a bad feeling.

Li Fire Palace was one of the Three Great Sects of the Yue Kingdom. What had made He Yan afraid to show his face? He had even abandoned the identity of a Li Fire Palace Disciple.

"Could that kid have joined the Divine Sword Sect!"

Thinking of everything that had happened recently, Lin Chang'an's heart tightened. The Jade Talisman in his hand was a hot potato.

"My good nephew, is this how you repay your Uncle Lin?"

Lin Chang'an memorized the inheritance, then raised his hand and destroyed both the Jade Talisman and the Jade Talisman, erasing all evidence.

At a time like this, if anyone learned that he had ties to the Cultivator Bandits of the Divine Sword Sect, even Foundation Establishment Cultivators would come to no good end.

Though he understood that this might be He Yan's repayment, temptation was temptation. The traces that needed erasing still had to be erased.

"No, I have to move!"

Once he thought it, he did it. Lin Chang'an did not hesitate in the slightest. After leaving his small courtyard, he put on an unconcerned air and made a trip to the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

He met with Shen Lie, then said that Er Niu had moved into the heart of the Zhou Family's territory and that he wanted to move as well, so they could look out for one another.

Thus, naturally enough, he moved near where Shen Lie lived. With Li Fire Palace right under their noses, even if someone wanted to cause trouble, it should not be so easy.

After observing cautiously for several days, he finally secretly let out a sigh of relief. It was not that he was overly cautious; it was simply a troubled time, and he did not want to be dragged into the mire.

Yet during this period, major events occurred one after another within the Market.

Cultivator Bandits ran rampant, demonic beasts caused chaos, and then news broke that Mystic Sound Pavilion had discovered a Purple Gold Mine. For a time, danger and opportunity overlapped completely.

"Tsk tsk, the Zhou Family has truly spent heavily this time. I heard they personally brought two Black Wind Wolf Cubs to visit Mystic Sound Pavilion."

"They really are willing to part with them. Only now could they do this—if it had been before, this would have been treason."

"I heard the Zhou Family Patriarch does not have much lifespan left."

That day, when Lin Chang'an came to the Market and heard the rumors outside, he could not help muttering to himself. Could the Zhou Family really allow this news to spread everywhere?

True Treasure Pavilion.

After passing through the bustling district and arriving at True Treasure Pavilion, he went directly to Shopkeeper Miao. With a lift of his hand, he placed down two hundred Spirit Stones, making Shopkeeper Miao grin broadly.

"Oh my, Master Lin, you are a rare guest indeed."

The two had known one another for a long time, and word of Lin Chang'an becoming a top-grade Talisman Master had long since spread. Thus, Shopkeeper Miao was not surprised when Lin Chang'an took out two hundred Spirit Stones. Instead, his face was full of envy.

"Master Lin's Dao heart is steadfast indeed. You are even willing to spend on a Small Spirit Gathering Array."

At Lin Chang'an's age, being willing to spend two hundred Spirit Stones on this truly counted as having a steadfast Dao heart.

Yet Lin Chang'an merely shook his head and sighed.

"The world outside is so chaotic. Who knows when fighting might break out? While my vitality and blood have not yet declined, I do not dare dream of Foundation Establishment, but I can still take a shot at Qi Refining Late Stage."

At Lin Chang'an's words, Shopkeeper Miao revealed an understanding expression.

"Master Lin, this is the Spirit Gathering Array and the method to set it up."

After learning how to use the Spirit Gathering Array, Lin Chang'an secretly nodded. Hundred Cultivation Arts truly each had their own applications.

Once he reached Foundation Establishment and had two hundred years of lifespan, he would certainly learn another craft that could assist his cultivation.

After placing the Spirit Gathering Array into his Storage Bag, Lin Chang'an purchased a few more cultivation resources before turning and leaving.

Market shantytown.

Within a dark house, a group of figures gathered.

Among them were three Foundation Establishment Cultivators exuding sinister auras. Below them stood more than ten Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators.

The difference was that every one of them had sunken eyes, sallow faces, and withered bodies. It was clear that they cultivated Demonic Path techniques that squeezed out their potential.

"Do you have any news?"

The group of Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators all shook their heads. One of the Qi Refining cultivators was unexpectedly He Yan. His expression was grave as he said hoarsely, "Reporting to my lords, it was too chaotic at the time. We searched for several days without results. I fear..."

Though He Yan did not say it outright, the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators could not help angrily berating them.

"You are all useless! We fought desperately, only for a group of Rogue Cultivators to pick up the advantage!"

"Bah, exactly! The Storage Bags of the Zhou Family and Mystic Sound Pavilion each contained Foundation Establishment Pills, yet some bastard fishing in troubled waters picked them up."

Just as the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators were lowering their voices to angrily berate them, a figure suddenly appeared in the room.

"Greetings, Protector!"

The faces of the three Foundation Establishment Cultivators turned pale as they hurriedly dropped to one knee and called out to the Protector.

The newcomer was a pale-faced, sinister figure. He swept a cold gaze over everyone, then directly shouted, "A bunch of useless trash! Your task is to stir up civil unrest in the Yue Kingdom, not fight over some Foundation Establishment Pills. Is the Foundation Seizing Method of my Mystic Yin Divine Sect not enough!?"

At those words, the three Foundation Establishment Demonic Sect cultivators lost every trace of color from their faces and hurriedly cupped their fists.

"Please forgive us, my lord!"

"Useless trash!"

As that bloodthirsty voice echoed, everyone broke out in cold sweat, yet no one dared refute him. One person hurriedly lowered his head and reported, hoping to earn merit. "Reporting to my lord, someone in the Zhou Family is unwilling to accept this and wishes to seek Foundation Establishment..."

Everyone was startled upon hearing this. It turned out that someone from the Zhou Family had sold out the Lineage in order to achieve Foundation Establishment, even revealing that their Clan-Protecting Spirit Beast, the Black Water Turtle, was weak while giving birth.

"The Zhou Family's Clan-Protecting Spirit Beast, the Black Water Turtle, is currently giving birth! That truly is excellent news."

Hearing the Protector's praise, the Foundation Establishment Cultivator below secretly sighed in relief and revealed a fawning smile.

The Protector, who exuded a sinister and terrifying aura, bared his teeth in a horrifying smile.

"Heh heh, you useless trash have been at this for so long. Do you know why things have not descended into chaos yet?"

The cultivators were stunned and all lowered their heads, cupping their fists as though they did not know.

The Protector sneered. "Because these Rogue Cultivators are not mad enough! Their greed has not been fully unleashed. If one or two Rogue Cultivators achieve Foundation Establishment, what do you think will happen?"

Those words alone made everyone shudder.

Once one or two people successfully reached Foundation Establishment, these Rogue Cultivators would see hope. The gates of desire would open, and they would go completely mad.

"The Protector is wise!"

One person revealed a flattering expression. Yet after hearing the man's praise, the sinister Protector revealed a savage smile.

"Very good! Then you will handle this matter!"

"Me!" The flattering Foundation Establishment Cultivator's eyes widened. Yet after seeing the other man's frightening gaze, he hurriedly cupped his fists. "Rest assured, Protector. This subordinate will certainly lure those traitors into taking the bait!"

"And you!" The Protector turned to look at the nervous group of Qi Refining cultivators and revealed a horrifying smile.

"I heard you say just now that you all want Foundation Establishment, yes? The opportunity is right before you. As long as you render great merit, I will personally use the Divine Cult's Foundation Seizing Secret Technique to help you establish your foundations."

Foundation Establishment! This was a realm they had once not even dared to dream of.

Though the Foundation Seizing Method required paying the corresponding price, it was still better than having no chance at all.

"What are you still standing around for? Go do your work for me and make the Yue Kingdom descend into chaos."

"Yes!"

As the Demonic Sect members departed, the Protector revealed a cold and sinister gaze.

"Heh heh, the Old Ancestor was right. There truly are traces of a Secret Realm discovered within the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. While the Old Ancestor is in seclusion, this is the perfect chance to use these cannon fodder to scout the path.

"With my False Core Realm cultivation, this Market has nothing but a group of Foundation Establishment Cultivators. The mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind; I can also take the chance to sow discord and muddy the waters. I truly possess the makings of an Old Ancestor."

Within the dark space, hoarse laughter echoed.