Chapter 108: A Sharp Contrast

Half a month later, Lan Chang'an returned to Wuqi Mountain, back to his cave mansion on Little Turtle Peak.

He consumed the second second-rank Life Extension Pill.

"Life Extended by eighteen years."

"The 436 years of total lifespan in the Foundation Establishment Realm."

Lan Chang'an's lifespan was abundant. Compared to longevity, the enhancement of the Evergreen Technique's mana made him even more excited as it directly affected his strength.

Even if it only enhanced a little each time. Over time, with many repetitions, one day it could compete with the core techniques of the cultivation sects.

After taking the Life Extension Pill, Lan Chang'an used the newly obtained second-rank superior-grade spirit wood to make talisman embryos and drew them into treasure talismans.

Because he had to wait for the first life's soul imprint to recover, he could only make them once every two months.

...

A year later. In the secret room of Little Turtle Peak.

Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged.

On the spirit wood table in front of him, nine treasure talismans were laid out in a three-by-three arrangement.

He released the Evergreen Technique's mana from his body, simultaneously enveloping the nine treasure talismans, nurturing them with ease.

The process of nourishing treasure talismans required no bursts of mana, only sustained effort. Coincidentally, Lan Chang'an's Evergreen Technique endowed him with long-lasting magical power and strong recovery abilities. With his current cultivation, he estimated that nurturing twenty to thirty treasure talismans simultaneously would not be problematic.

"If I consume lifespan to nurture the treasure talismans with the Evergreen Technique, what would the effect be?"

Lan Chang'an had this thought.

However, he didn't want to casually consume his lifespan. Roughly estimating, it could speed up the nurturing process or enhance the spirituality and quality of the treasure talismans. It also might have negative results.

Lan Chang'an currently faced no crises; his physical body was comparable to a mid second-rank beast, and he possessed a batch of second-rank superior-grade talismans, including some initially nurtured treasure talismans.

He possessed ample power to protect himself under normal circumstances. Unless absolutely necessary, he wouldn't consider employing such a tactic.

...

A few days later.

A Foundation Establishment aura passed through the clouds of Wuqi Mountain, reaching the front of Little Turtle Peak.

The visitor was a lean middle-aged man with fair skin and a short beard.

"Senior..."

Guan Qiaozhi bowed, her charming eyes suddenly focused.

"You are... Lin Lu?"

She recognized his identity and exclaimed in surprise.

It had been over ten years since she left Huanglong Immortal City with Lan Chang'an.

Lin Lu smiled, "Aunt Guan, please inform Uncle Lan."

Aunt Guan?

Guan Qiaozhi's face turned red, feeling embarrassed to be addressed like this by a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

She pursed her lips, then cheerfully said, "Your Uncle Lan is not in seclusion, come with me."

At the pavilion, by the lotus pond Lan Chang'an was enjoying tea, not surprised by Lin Lu's visit after his Foundation Establishment as he'd received word about a month ago.

"Little nephew Lin Lu greets Uncle Lan."

The middle-aged Lin Lu walked into the pavilion, looking at the ageless white-robed man in front of him.

He took a deep breath, and bowed deeply, almost ninety degrees.

There was a stark contrast between Mu Jiuan and Lin Lu's attitudes as Foundation Establishment juniors paying their respects.

Lan Chang'an stood up and invited Lin Lu to sit.

"Little Lu, you look much more handsome since the last time we met."

The last time Lan Chang'an saw Lin Lu, he was still a young man in his thirties.

Even with the support of four seniors, Lin Lu had been busy planning for the Foundation Establishment pill these years.

"Not as much as Uncle Lan, who practices health-nourishing techniques."

Lin Lu respectfully took the teacup handed by Guan Qiaozhi.

He envied Lan Chang'an's ageless appearance, as he didn't have the surplus to purchase a Youth Retaining Pill.

Lan Chang'an's ageless appearance was no secret and didn't need to be hidden. This was the unfathomable cultivation realm, not the mundane martial arts world. There were numerous methods by which one could delay aging, including the consumption of second-rank Youth Retaining Pill, which cost half the price of a Foundation Establishment Pill.

Alternatively, taking a first-rank Beauty Pill every few years could also achieve near agelessness. However, lower-level cultivators struggling to establish foundations couldn't afford such luxuries.

Besides elixirs, wood-element health techniques, rejuvenation techniques, and certain demonic techniques could also significantly delay aging, even granting eternal youth.

There was also a heaven-defying method, if one cultivated quickly enough, increasing their longevity at a rate far exceeding the speed of biological aging, they too could achieve a similar effect. Only those blessed with great destiny could succeed via this route.

...

"Uncle Lan, this time I specially came to repay my debt and return the owed spirit stones."

Lin Lu took out a bag of spirit stones and a jar of second-rank spirit wine.

"You just established your foundation, where did you get the spirit stones?"

Lan Chang'an was surprised.

He thought Lin Lu would need to work hard for a few years after establishing his foundation to repay the debt.

This time, not only did he repay the spirit stones, but he also brought a jar of second-rank spirit wine worth at least two hundred spirit stones.

"After my foundation establishment, my wife's family learned about it and proactively provided support."

Lin Lu blushed slightly, explaining the reason.

Lan Chang'an understood immediately.

Lin Lu's wife, Li Qiumei's cultivation family, had a Foundation Establishment ancestor nearing the end of their life. Now, her cultivation family instead sought favor with Lin Lu, their son-in-law.

Lin Lu then shared the details of this Foundation Establishment. Lin Lu, being a disciple of a sect, had an easier time obtaining a Foundation Establishment pill compared to loose cultivators.

Zhang Tieshan helped to find an alchemist within the sect to make the pill, as well as a cooperative party.

A Xuanling Fruit or special demon core was not too difficult for the upper echelons of the sect to acquire.

Some big shots, when refining pills for their descendants, only needed to provide the key ingredients while other materials were supplied by collaborators.

Lin Lu was lucky this time; three standard pills were produced.

With the help of four Foundation Establishment seniors, he had the second priority of the pills.

Lin Lu's spirit root aptitude was near mid-grade, and at under sixty years old, taking a Foundation Establishment pill, success or failure was within normal expectations.

Having experienced great ups and downs, his resolve was strong and didn't hold him back.

For mid-grade and low spiritual roots, the Foundation Establishment Pill's influence was significant. Only those with Earth Spirit Roots and above weren't reliant on the pill.

Those with Earth Spirit Roots had a natural 50% success rate and were often made core disciples of sects, given advanced techniques, further boosting their Foundation Establishment chances.

Such favored individuals lived in different circles, easily obtaining Foundation Establishment pills.

"Little Lu, after this Foundation Establishment, the benefits left by your father are exhausted. You must tread carefully and strive for perfection."

Before leaving, Lan Chang'an advised.

"Little nephew understands. I will always remember the kindness of all the elders and repay it one day."

Lin Lu bowed.

...

Months later.

Lan Chang'an finally received a letter from Chen Fuhai from the Qingzhu Sect.

Unfolding the map of the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world.

The Flame Departing Palace occupied the center with a fourth-tier spiritual vein.

Jin Yun Valley was in the west, and Qingzhu Sect was in the east, far apart.

Wuqi Mountain, located in the central-western region, was relatively far from the Qingzhu Sect.

In the letter, Chen Fuhai responded about the third-rank spirit bamboo.

"Qingzhu Sect indeed has third-rank spirit bamboo, not in small quantities, but it's difficult to get them until they are approved by the elders."

"Second-rank superior-grade spirit bamboo, Chen Fuhai can promise to get one or two."

"If you insist on third-rank spirit bamboo, should I go to Qingzhu Sect to discuss it?"

After reading the letter, Lan Chang'an found a new breakthrough point.

To acquire third-rank spirit bamboo, Chen Fuhai mentioned he had to go to Qingzhu Sect to discuss.

There might be some taboos and special operations that couldn't be explicitly stated in the letter.

Lan Chang'an pondered for a long time whether to visit Qingzhu Sect.

He had concerns:

The journey to Qingzhu Sect was far, affecting his cultivation, and might not succeed.

Importantly, Chen Fuhai, a mid Foundation Establishment cultivator, was someone he had only met once, without much trust.

Back in the Black Fog Mountain Range, they almost fought over a special demon core. This showed that Chen Fuhai's character was not noble. If it were someone trustworthy like Zhao Siyao, he would make the trip.

In the end, Lan Chang'an wrote a letter saying he would consider the third-rank spirit bamboo issue.

As for the second-rank superior-grade spirit bamboo, if Chen Fuhai came to Huanglong Immortal City or within the Jin Yun Valley territory, he hoped for him to bring two pieces of them along. Lan Chang'an was willing to buy them at auction prices, higher than market rates.

Lan Chang'an wrote the letter and asked Guan Qiaozhi to pass it on to Lan Lin.

...

Guan Qiaozhi held the letter and was just about to fly off the Little Turtle Peak when she spotted Lan Lin flying toward her, leading an old man in black robes.

"Mister Mu, this is Little Turtle Peak, Senior Lan's cultivation field."

Lan Lin smiled sweetly at her guest.

Guan Qiaozhi examined the newcomer: The black-robed old man was broad-shouldered with piercing eyes, exuding the air of someone accustomed to power and authority.

"Little Sister Qiaozhi, this is Senior Mu from Feiyue Lake, said to be an acquaintance of Senior Lan."

"Mm-hmm, my master happens to be in; please follow me inside."

Guan Qiaozhi's gaze flickered slightly as she guessed the visitor's identity. Though they had never met, she knew well Lan Chang'an's social connections after spending so many years by his side.

Lan Chang'an was somewhat surprised to see Mu Renlong visiting him. In the past decade or so, the environment around Feiyue Lake had stabilized. The Maple Leaf Huang Family had lost their drive for advancement and focused on maintaining their market and other businesses instead.

"Still, Fellow Daoist Lan enjoys such ease, sitting atop a large mountain peak with spit veins, raising turtles, and cultivating plants," Mu Renlong sighed as he took his seat.

After some small talk, Mu Renlong explained his purpose for coming. He had come to Wuqi Mountain seeking pills to help him reach mid Foundation Establishment.

However, this Alchemist Lin Ye was a superior-grade second-rank cultivator, of considerable renown and status, whose cultivation surpassed that of Mu Renlong's own. Without a recommendation, Mu Renlong would not receive special attention or consideration.

"This matter is not difficult." Lan Chang'an did not decline the request.

As one of the three peak masters of Wuqi Mountain, though his seniority was youngest among them, he still counted as a neighbor. He'd known Lin Ye for ten years, and their relationship was respectable enough. They shared common enemies; Lan Chang'an didn't need to make any effort to cultivate a friendship with Lin Ye, and they naturally became allies.

That day, Lan Chang'an introduced Mu Renlong to Lin Ye, who discussed some pill-concocting plans with him. The entire process went smoothly. This superior-grade second-rank alchemist wasn't as eccentrically irritable as rumored.

"Fellow Daoist Lan, thanks to your recommendation, this humble one owes you another favor."

Mu Renlong expressed his gratitude and left satisfied, returning home to gather ingredients.

In truth, Lan Chang'an hadn't done much, but he had still helped Mu Renlong greatly.

"If Mu Renlong can successfully reach mid Foundation Establishment, Feiyue Lake's strength will rise significantly."

Lan Chang'an was eager for this outcome.

A cultivator at mid Foundation Establishment could easily defeat two early Foundation Establishment cultivators.

At over a hundred years old, Mu Renlong was still considered relatively young among Foundation Establishment cultivators; Huang Tankong of the Huang Family, on the other hand, had reached the end of his longevity.

With the decline of one and the rise of the other, the Mu Family of Feiyue Lake would welcome a period of good fortune.

However...

Lan Chang'an didn't expect that this would be the last time he saw Mu Renlong.

(End of chapter)

T/L: Basically my country's been thrown into chaos and internet was cut off for a few days. Things have settled down a bit now so updates will continue as usual, assuming my internet doesn't die again... T_T