Cultivator Bandit Old Ghost

Two months later, Er Niu returned.

Accompanying him were not only the Zhou Family disciples who had gone to the front lines, but also a newly promoted Foundation Establishment Cultivator of the Zhou Family.

In just a few short years, the Zhou Family had gone from a lineage hanging by a thread to firmly finding its footing.

Li Fire Palace and Mystic Sound Pavilion had used a full three Foundation Establishment Pills to pile up a Foundation Establishment Cultivator for the Zhou Family.

"The Two Major Sects are telling all cultivators through the Zhou Family that anyone with merit, even if they die in battle, will have their wives, children, and descendants protected by the sects."

Lin Chang'an understood this as clearly as a mirror; indeed, everyone knew it.

Yet the Two Major Sects had truly used Foundation Establishment Pills to create a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, so even knowing this, countless cultivators were still moved.

Sure enough, once news of the Zhou Family spread, countless cultivators were tempted. In particular, many Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators who had no opportunity to achieve Foundation Establishment one by one chose to head for the front lines.

Li Fire Palace and Mystic Sound Pavilion naturally welcomed this, and were even lavish in rewarding cultivators with merit.

"The first one is called a model. This Zhou Family Patriarch was quite decisive."

Lin Chang'an shook his head. Three Foundation Establishment Pills were already an exceptional reward.

Even if great merit were earned afterward, such a reward would not be given so easily again.

"But Er Niu really is fortunate."

Thinking of Er Niu's luck, Lin Chang'an could not help but feel envious. Time and again, Er Niu had turned peril into safety.

When he had first entered the Cultivation World, Er Niu had been weak in the Monster Hunting Team and gritted his teeth to hold on. In the end, the Zhou Family took a liking to him, and he became their live-in son-in-law.

The last time, the Zhou Family had assigned him to manage businesses outside. Not only had he luckily avoided the Zhou Family's upheaval, he had also cleared himself of suspicion and picked up a fine posting.

And this time, he had barely set out for war when the Zhou Family Patriarch secretly followed after him, only for this incident to happen.

"Could Er Niu truly be a man blessed by fortune?"

Lin Chang'an stroked his chin, pondering suspiciously. There was no lack of cultivators with excellent luck in the Cultivation World.

"Big Brother Lin, Brother Shen, and Junior Sister, the front lines are far too dangerous. Several Markets have descended into chaos, and there are Cultivator Bandits everywhere..."

Shen Lie, Lu Qingqing, Lin Chang'an, and Li Erniu sat in a private room at the Gathering Immortal Pavilion, welcoming Er Niu back with a feast.

Yun Yao was, after all, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator. Usually, she was either cultivating or carrying out sect missions. Foundation Establishment Cultivators also had their own circles, so she only occasionally gathered with them.

"Er Niu, you truly turned disaster into good fortune this time."

Even Shen Lie could not help envying Li Erniu's luck.

With the Zhou Family established as a model, if nothing else, cultivators would at least no longer be conscripted from the Zhou Family to the front lines.

After all, only a flourishing Zhou Family could serve as a model.

"Just lucky."

Li Erniu's face was glowing red. After returning this time, he no longer had to worry about being sent to the front lines again. He could finally hold his wife and child close and live peacefully for a while.

Moreover, thanks to the Zhou Family Patriarch, all seven of them had received rewards.

"Er Niu, what exactly is the situation on the front-line battlefield?"

After three rounds of wine, Lin Chang'an asked curiously. Though they were deep in the rear, the war at the front lines still affected the situation of the entire Yue Kingdom.

Even Lu Qingqing and Shen Lie wore grave expressions.

When the front-line situation was mentioned, Li Erniu's expression became complicated. At last, he let out a faint sigh and spoke of the front lines' cruelty.

"To be honest, the front lines are a mess. Cultivators have all infiltrated one another's territory, sabotaging things and disrupting the Markets' stability. I heard that some powerful Qi Refining Late Stage cultivators have even formed groups.

"They specifically sneak into enemy territory, burning, killing, looting, and plundering resources. Several people have already gathered enough Foundation Establishment materials, and several Foundation Establishment Cultivators have appeared at the front lines."

As Er Niu spoke, they came to understand the cruelty and madness of the front lines.

Especially since new Foundation Establishment Cultivators had begun to emerge, whether through earning merit or plundering, this would undoubtedly drive people even madder.

But overall, the main forces of the Three Great Sects had yet to enter the fray, and the situation remained deadlocked.

For them, that was good news.

"Oh, right. I never expected Big Brother Lin to break through to the Qi Refining Late Stage. Congratulations."

As Li Erniu raised his cup in congratulations, there was a trace of hesitation in his eyes. In the end, he said solemnly,

"Big Brother Lin, don't go to the front lines for Foundation Establishment. I was only lucky."

Seeing Er Niu's concern, Lin Chang'an smiled and waved his hand.

"Er Niu, you're overthinking it. I'm only at the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Foundation Establishment is still far, far away. It's too early."

"Exactly. All kinds of materials outside are rising in price now. With Brother Lin's skills as a First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master, there's no need to risk your life at the front."

Shen Lie spoke enviously as well. Lin Chang'an nodded with a light smile, but his thoughts had already drifted elsewhere.

A normal First-Order High-Grade Talisman Master could earn only a little over a hundred Spirit Stones per month after costs, or just over a thousand a year. But he was extraordinarily gifted.

Foundation Establishment Pills were strategic resources, but they were not unavailable for purchase. Yun Yao had said before that within the sect, one Foundation Establishment Pill cost roughly five or six thousand Spirit Stones.

Of course, prices would fluctuate during wartime. If possible, he would rather save enough Spirit Stones to buy one, or prepare Foundation Establishment materials in advance. That would be safer as well.

"No wonder they say the Hundred Cultivation Arts are the crafts that truly make money."

That was why Shen Lie envied Lin Chang'an. With the skills of a First-Rank Talisman Master, one truly had a chance to attempt Foundation Establishment, though the success rate was very low.

"Oh, right. With the Market's development over this period, an Auction is being prepared for half a year from now. If you're interested, you can go take a look."

Shen Lie smiled as he mentioned this Auction, jointly organized by the Two Major Sects and the various lineages and Chambers of Commerce. It could be called the liveliest event in the Market's history.

"An Auction!"

Upon hearing this, Lin Chang'an showed a thoughtful expression. His cultivation had just broken through, and there was still quite a bit of Spirit Grass in his Storage Bag specifically for feeding Spirit Pets.

After all, his cultivation would not progress much for the time being. Raising a Spirit Pet would be worthwhile, though he absolutely could not imitate the Zhou Family and raise a Black Water Turtle.

It lived long enough, but its growth period was just as slow. He did not have a lineage behind him, so naturally he had to choose one that matured quickly.

Even Er Niu showed interest. After all, thanks to the Zhou Family Patriarch at the front lines, they had all earned merit and received quite a few Spirit Stones as rewards.

Just as they were learning about the front-line situation in the Restaurant, an angry shout suddenly rang out beyond the Market.

"Audacious Cultivator Bandits! You dare rob Li Fire Palace's supplies!"

"Hahaha! Li Fire Palace's Golden Core old monsters are all holding down the sect. What can you do with just yourselves?"

"Not good! It's Old Ghost! You actually achieved Foundation Establishment!"

A commotion broke out outside the Market. Old Ghost, his face withered and gaunt and his eyes bloodshot, let out a vengeful roar of laughter.

"That's right! Thanks to the heads of you Li Fire Palace Disciples, this old man had the chance to achieve Foundation Establishment. Go back and tell Huang Yuntian that this old man is back!"

"Hahaha! All cultivators in the Market, listen up! Whoever brings me Huang Yuntian's son's head, this old man still has Foundation Establishment Pills!"

Amid the rumbling battle, screams rang out. Yet by the time the Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Two Major Sects within the Market arrived in fury, the area outside was already a complete mess.

Old Ghost had long since plundered the supplies, cut off the heads of Li Fire Palace Disciples, and fled deep into the mountain forests.

Lin Chang'an and the others' gathering in the Restaurant was interrupted as well.

"Big Brother Lin, could this Old Ghost be real?"

Li Erniu spoke in shock. They knew that name all too well.

Only Shen Lie and Lu Qingqing were puzzled, unfamiliar with this person.

But Lin Chang'an's expression was grave, and he nodded.

"The voice sounded very similar. More than twenty years ago, he was a Qi Refining Late Stage cultivator in a Monster Hunting Squad. Later, I heard that after several brushes with death, he finally managed to gather the things needed for Foundation Establishment, only for them to be forcibly bought halfway through by some sect cultivator..."

Although Lin Chang'an spoke vaguely, everyone understood. Most likely, someone had used power to bully him.

"Later, I heard he was unwilling to accept it and became a Cultivator Bandit. But he had vanished for over twenty years. I never expected him to still be alive."

And to have achieved Foundation Establishment!

Of course, no one knew whether it was truly him.

This sudden disturbance outside the Market sparked discussion throughout the entire Market.

"Old Ghost! I heard that old fellow is already nearly seventy, yet he actually achieved Foundation Establishment!"

"No way. Someone that old can achieve Foundation Establishment too? Heaven is unfair!"

"Damn it, if that old fellow can do it, I'm no worse!"

Old Ghost, a man who had vanished into silence for more than a decade, had his past exploits unearthed once more and spread throughout the Market.