Breakthrough! Years of Accumulation, a Sudden Burst

Half a month later, Li Erniu followed the conscripted cultivators to the front lines.

This time, a total of seven cultivators from the Zhou Family had answered the summons.

Lin Chang'an and Shen Lie had both come to see him off. As for Junior Sister Lu Qingqing, she had just given birth to a chubby boy for Shen Lie.

Little Princess Yun Yao, as a Foundation Establishment cultivator responsible for the Market's safety, had far too much on her hands. Though she had not come in person, she had asked Shen Lie to pass on a message: she would do her best to arrange a safer position for Er Niu.

Watching Er Niu and the other cultivators vanish into the distance, Lin Chang'an pondered for a long while.

If he had not awakened his talent, perhaps he too would have had to head to the front lines and fight for that sliver of opportunity.

He just did not know how many of them would return this time.

"The Cultivation World changed like wind and clouds. I only hope this war does not spread here."

Lin Chang'an sighed with emotion, while also feeling fortunate about the choice he had made back then.

During this time, he had heard no shortage of news that several Markets at the front-line border had already become battlefields.

Green Bamboo Mountain Market, meanwhile, lay deep in the rear of Li Fire Palace and Mystic Sound Pavilion.

Inside the secret chamber.

Dressed in white robes, Lin Chang'an sat cross-legged, cultivating the Evergreen Art.

Though the Evergreen Art was an ordinary cultivation technique, it emphasized a solid foundation and steady progress. Its early effects were inferior to those of other techniques, but as time passed, its effects would become increasingly pronounced.

Its quality of years of accumulation followed by a sudden burst was especially evident the higher one's cultivation became.

At this moment, Lin Chang'an, at the peak of the Qi Refining Sixth Layer, could clearly sense the dense, vigorous spiritual power within his body continuously crashing against the bottleneck.

That day, a powerful fluctuation of spiritual power surged from the secret chamber.

"Qi Refining Seventh Layer!"

The breakthrough came as naturally as water flowing into a channel, displaying the Evergreen Art's remarkable quality of years of accumulation followed by a sudden burst.

Slowly opening his eyes, Lin Chang'an felt the substantial increase in the pure spiritual power within his body, and he could not help feeling thrilled.

"Twenty-six years of cultivation. Nearing forty-seven years of age, I have finally broken through!"

The Qi Refining Seventh Layer marked entry into the Qi Refining Late Stage. Not only had his spiritual power surged, but when paired with the Wood Spirit Thorn spell, its might would double, giving him a measure of security.

Of course, his usual talisman drawing to earn Spirit Stones could also last longer.

"Breaking through to the Qi Refining Late Stage before forty-seven—if I keep up this cultivation pace, Foundation Establishment is within sight!"

At the thought, Lin Chang'an's heart burned with anticipation. Before sixty was the best age for Foundation Establishment.

With the situation so chaotic, the Qi Refining Late Stage only gave him a sliver of self-preservation. Only Foundation Establishment would give him a chance to leave the whirlpool that was the Yue Kingdom.

The cultivators living nearby could not help sensing it as well.

"A newly advanced Qi Refining Seventh Layer cultivator—who is it?"

"It seems to be Master Lin."

"Lin Chang'an? It was actually him!"

Quite a few cultivators looked toward Lin Chang'an's courtyard. Meanwhile, inside an upper room at the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, Lu Qingqing, who had been teasing the child, had shock in her beautiful eyes.

"It was actually Senior Brother Lu!"

This powerful fluctuation of spiritual power, together with that familiar direction, left Lu Qingqing marveling in astonishment.

"I never expected Senior Brother Lu to be the one who got ahead of us."

Shen Lie, who had broken through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer not long ago, pushed open the door and entered with a laugh.

"Qingqing, did you see it? I never expected Brother Lin to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage. But thinking about it, with the abilities of a top-grade Talisman Master and the Evergreen Art's quality of years of accumulation followed by a sudden burst, it makes sense."

In everyone's eyes, Lin Chang'an had cultivated diligently for decades as though each day were the same, without ever showing the slightest slackness. His breakthrough seemed understandable.

"Enough. The situation has been tense lately. Even many disciples from Li Fire Palace have been assigned to the rear. We cannot fall too far behind in cultivation either."

Lu Qingqing reminded him, and Shen Lie nodded solemnly.

[Realm: Qi Refining Seventh Layer (1/100)]

Three days later, Lin Chang'an emerged from seclusion. Many nearby neighbors came to offer congratulations, even bringing gifts.

"Brother Lin, you truly make others green with envy."

With a warm smile, Shen Lie stepped forward and gave him a big hug.

"Brother Shen, you are not bad yourself. The Gathering Immortal Pavilion's business is flourishing by the day. Your cultivation will catch up sooner or later."

Lin Chang'an likewise smiled and teased him. He had seen the Gathering Immortal Pavilion's development over this period.

Although Yun Yao had earned quite a lot, Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing had entered with initial capital and had likewise made no small profit.

Spiritual Root talent was certainly important, but cultivation resources were even more important.

Faced with Lin Chang'an's teasing, Shen Lie wore a broad smile and did not bother being modest.

As long as the resources kept up, anyone's cultivation progress would be fast.

"Enough, the two of you are grown men. Today, Senior Brother Lin has broken through to the Qi Refining Late Stage. I have already arranged a private room to celebrate for him."

Lu Qingqing said with a smile, holding the child.

This bright-eyed, sturdy little boy was the fruit of Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing's union.

In the blink of an eye, Lu Qingqing, once a young maiden, had now become a mother.

"Come on, come on. We have to celebrate Brother Lin."

Under Shen Lie's hearty laughter, Lin Chang'an did not refuse and headed for the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

Inside the private room.

Amid laughter and cheerful conversation, Shen Lie spoke with a beaming smile about the recent situation. After all, merchants were most sensitive to information.

"So quite a few Sect cultivators have come to the Market again."

Hearing this, Lin Chang'an nodded in realization. Yet Shen Lie, his face flushed red from drink, lowered his voice and transmitted to him:

"Brother Lin, I have portraits with the information and distinguishing features of these people. Be careful around them. They are all descendants with connections higher up."

Under Shen Lie's reminder, Lin Chang'an understood.

Relatives and descendants of some Golden Core Elder from Li Fire Palace, or connected disciples with networks of influence—it was perfectly normal for them to be assigned to the rear.

No matter what world one was in, such things existed.

Shen Lie's reminder was also to tell him that these cultivators all had backgrounds. Some of them would inevitably be arrogant and overbearing, so he would not accidentally offend anyone.

"I wonder how Er Niu is doing now."

During the banquet, when they spoke of Er Niu at the front lines, Shen Lie's mood visibly sank. After exchanging a glance, the two raised their cups, hoping that the next time they gathered here, they would still be able to meet again.

Inside the Restaurant's private room, laughter and cheerful voices filled the air, while outside, the cold wind howled and great flakes of goose-feather snow drifted down.

When Lin Chang'an stepped out of the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, he looked at the Market, now cloaked in silver frost, and could not help letting out a soft, melancholy sigh.

"It truly vanishes in the blink of an eye."

A person's life was like this: when he entered the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, the world outside had been one sight; when he emerged, heaven and earth had already donned new clothes.

Time never waited for anyone.

In the wind and snow, Lin Chang'an's figure disappeared down the street. Along the way, he changed disguises several times and even swallowed two Sobering Pills to dispel the smell of alcohol from his body.

"Yun Yao is not in the Market, and Shen Lie was nearly drunk senseless by me just now. This is a perfect opportunity to get rid of this unspeakable item."

Lin Chang'an pondered in secret. Previously, his cultivation had been too low, and he had also feared that the Zhou Family might be fishing for bait.

If he went to the Gathering Immortal Pavilion now, it would be tantamount to boosting its business.

Logically speaking, Yun Yao and Shen Lie ought to thank him.

With that in mind, the disguised Lin Chang'an wandered around the Market for half an hour, allowing himself to pick up traces of other people's auras before finally turning toward the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.

As wind and snow howled, a hunchbacked cultivator wearing a bamboo hat slowly passed outside the Gathering Immortal Pavilion.