Chapter 50: Building Up Strength
Lan Chang'an's eulogy before the tombstone seemed to illuminate a dawn in the darkness, brightening the hearts of the cultivators present.
"Fellow Daoist Lan is right. The deceased are gone, and the living must continue. May we all encourage each other, and may the path of immortality remain evergreen."
Next to Zhao Siyao, a resolute young man with slightly dark skin spoke in praise.
Looking at this young man in the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, Lan Chang'an felt a sense of familiarity and quickly recalled: "Your Excellency is Zhang Tieshan, Fellow Daoist Zhang?"
"Twenty years have passed, and Fellow Daoist Lan still remembers me." Zhang Tieshan nodded.
He sighed with sorrow on his face and said, "Back then, we met in Hengshui Prefecture. Fellow Daoist Lan should have advised Lin to not follow me to that haunted house to exorcise ghosts." Hearing this, Lan Chang'an felt a stir in his heart. Zhang Tieshan's tone carried a hint of guilt.
After some conversation, Lan Chang'an learned that Lin Yi's death had some connection to Zhang Tieshan.
"Twenty years ago, Lin Yi followed Zhang Tieshan to exorcise ghosts in a haunted house, gaining some small rewards, which established a relationship between the two."
Zhang Tieshan had average qualifications but strong willpower, remarkable combat skills, and often took on sect missions to eliminate evil cultivators wanted by the sect.
Lin Yi's Hidden Immortal Pavilion provided Zhang Tieshan with intelligence and assistance.
Over time, other sect disciples also sought Lin Yi's help, offering rewards.
"Twenty years later, Lin Yi led the cultivators of the Hidden Immortal Pavilion to assist the disciples of Jin Yun Valley in encircling a wanted criminal, encountering an ambush, and died from serious injuries."
Reflecting on the past twenty years, Lan Chang'an felt a sense of emotion. Back then, Lin Yi's choice to follow Zhang Tieshan to exorcise ghosts seemed to have sown the seeds for today's outcome.
"Fellow Daoist Zhang, there's no need for self-blame. Brother Lin surely wouldn't regret his decision."
Lan Chang'an thought to himself, if Lin Yi hadn't met Zhang Tieshan, he wouldn't have achieved his later successes.
He established the Hidden Immortal Pavilion, absorbed wandering cultivators, accumulated resources, and ensured his son's smooth entry into Jin Yun Valley.
With Lin Yi's qualifications, managing forces in the secular world, he wouldn't have been able to establish a foundation in this lifetime.
Even if he didn't fall today, he would have lived just a few more decades.
"Lin Lu, your father left you quite a legacy. From now on, you must cultivate steadily, step by step." Zhang Tieshan earnestly advised.
"Yes, Uncle Zhang." Lin Lu replied respectfully, lowering his head in shame.
He thought of how he had once fought with someone in the sect over a beautiful female cultivator, and Zhang Tieshan had admonished him on this matter.
...
Before Lin Yi's grave, most of the cultivators who had been close to him in life had gathered.
Some offered incense in tribute, while others poured wine before the tombstone.
Zhao Siyao and Zhang Tieshan took the lead, suggesting they take care of Lin Yi's son.
Besides the care from the sect, it was best to preserve the spiritual land of the Hidden Immortal Pavilion.
Lin Lu, now twenty years old, at the fourth layer of Qi-Refining, and a sect disciple, was not weaker than his father in strength.
As long as the cultivators present spoke up, other cultivators wouldn't dare covet Lin Lu's inheritance and this piece of spiritual land. As for whether the Hidden Immortal Pavilion should continue, that was up to Lin Lu.
Seven days after Lin Yi's burial, Zhang Tieshan and the other cultivators took their leave.
"Lin Lu, what happened to Xia Felen, whom your father caught refining pills in the underground palace?" Lan Chang'an asked privately.
Lin Lu's expression became slightly unnatural as he replied, "According to my father's will, he was forced to take poison and commit suicide."
Lan Chang'an made no comment, merely wanting to know the result. If Xia Felen were still alive, he would certainly hate Lin Yi and his son, even implicating Lan Chang'an and others.
"Before my father died, he instructed me to learn from you, Uncle Lan, to survive long in the world of cultivation." Lin Lu said softly. Lan Chang'an was taken aback, not expecting Lin Yi's will to include praise for him. This time, Lin Lu appeared less arrogant.
Before the tombstone, only Zhao Siyao, Lan Chang'an, and Li Ergou remained. After giving some instructions, the three bid farewell and left.
...
Flying out of the valley of the Hidden Immortal Pavilion,
Lan Chang'an chatted briefly with Zhao Siyao, mainly about her progress in foundation establishment.
"I've accumulated enough contribution points and applied to the sect to redeem them. One of the next batch of Foundation Establishment Pills will be mine." Zhao Siyao mentioned this with a pleased tone.
"That's good. Congratulations, Fellow Daoist Zhao, on achieving foundation establishment soon." Lan Chang'an and Li Ergou congratulated her in advance.
"There is one thing I haven't thanked you for." Before leaving, Zhao Siyao gracefully bowed to Lan Chang'an.
"Years ago, the two premium talismans you gave me provided crucial assistance in the Black Fog Mountain Range."
"With our friendship, these two talismans are not worth mentioning." Lan Chang'an spoke generously, saying pleasant words. Once Zhao Siyao established her foundation, two first-rank talismans would be trivial.
"Since our friendship is so deep, if I am fortunate enough to establish my foundation, I hope you won't change the way you address me again." Zhao Siyao smiled charmingly and waved goodbye.
"Change the way to address her?"
Li Ergou was puzzled for a moment, then realized, "According to the rules of the cultivation world, if Fellow Daoist Zhao establishes her foundation, we would have to address her as Senior."
In the cultivation world, one's cultivation came first and foremost. Unless it's a direct bloodline or a master-disciple relationship, seniority is mostly determined by cultivation.
"Back then, in the Gathering Immortals Building, this woman remembered the matter of changing the way of address so clearly, she might have held a grudge!" Lan Chang'an smiled bitterly.
However, Zhao Siyao's words today, forbidding Lan Chang'an from calling her "Senior" in the future, showed she truly valued their friendship and was not heartless.
In the cultivation world, there were plenty of ungrateful people.
For example, in Lan Chang'an's past life, his family had a genius with an excellent Earth Spiritual Root. The family sent him to the sect, sparing no expense in providing resources.
That genius naturally took all this for granted.
Later, after successfully forming a golden core, he distanced himself from the family, ignoring them in times of crisis.
Even family bloodlines could be like this, let alone friends from the outside world.
...
A few days later.
Lan Chang'an and his Li Ergou returned to Feiyue Manor.
Lan Chang'an needed to return Mu Xiuyun's flying boat, so he went to Moonheart Island.
Moonheart Island was where the high-level family members cultivated, and this was Lan Chang'an's first time there.
He sent out a sound transmission.
Before long, Mu Xiuyun, in a plain dress, flew out of a cave-dwelling on the island.
Because she had taken the Beauty Pill, Mu Xiuyun looked to be in her twenties, radiant and with skin like jade, almost wrinkle-free.
After returning the flying boat, Lan Chang'an proposed to resign from his position as the Chief Talisman Master at the market's talisman shop.
Because, Lan Chang'an estimated he would advance to the seventh layer of Qi-Refining within two years and then leave the Mu Family at Feiyue Lake.
"The talisman shop lacks senior talisman masters. Stay for a few more years, and I'll apply for a Bottleneck-Breaking Pill for you, how about that?"
She pursed her red lips, her starry eyes showing a hint of anticipation.
"No need, Mu Ershun and Mu Shan are almost capable of taking on the responsibility. The shop's stock of rare talismans is enough for several years." Lan Chang'an bowed and took his leave.
Watching his departing white-robed figure, Mu Xiuyun realized something, her beautiful face showing a trace of sadness, standing there for a long time.
...
Feiyue Manor.
Lan Chang'an returned to his old lakeside courtyard.
Activating the formation restrictions, he immediately began secluded cultivation.
Though he called it secluded cultivation, he only needed to cultivate for one or two hours a day, slightly less effective than at Bamboo Leaf Mountain.
One or two years passed quickly.
One day, a strong surge of magical power erupted from the lakeside residence, resonating with the heavens and the earth.
Ordinary formations couldn't conceal it.
"Seventh layer of Qi-Refining?"
The family cultivators living nearby sensed it.
"Who has newly advanced to the seventh layer of Qi-Refining?"
"It seems to be Talisman Master Lan!"
"Lan Chang'an, it's actually him?"
Many cultivators looked towards Lan Chang'an's residence.
The seventh layer of Qi-Refining might be unremarkable in the sect, but in a Foundation Establishment family, it counted as mid-to-high level.
If one's seniority was a bit deeper, at the eighth level of Qi Refining, one could be included in the Elder level of the Mu Family.
The older Mu Family cultivators weren't surprised by Lan Chang'an's advancement to the seventh layer of Qi-Refining.
After all, Lan Chang'an wasn't lacking in qualifications, had been diligently cultivating for years, and had resources from his talisman-making to support him.
Advancing to the seventh layer of Qi-Refining was a culmination of long preparation.
...
"Forty-five years old, seventh layer of Qi-Refining!"
Inside the lakeside house, Lan Chang'an felt the substantial increase in his Evergreen magical power, his heart filled with excitement.
"In this third life, I've finally passed the most vulnerable stage."
He felt elated, letting out a long howl.
The seventh layer of Qi-Refining marked the late stage of Qi-Refining.
It wasn't just a significant increase in magical power. Combined with the accumulations of his previous two lives, his actual combat power had more than doubled.
For example, Lan Chang'an's current spiritual sense was almost comparable to the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and it could be released outward for twenty zhang (about 66 meters).
This was thanks to the feedback and enhancement of his soul by the Nine Seal Stele.
With his current strength, possessing late-stage body refining attainments, a peak first-rank spirit pet, powerful talismans, and other trump cards, he had the means to survive even against an ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator.
This was why Lan Chang'an planned to leave the Mu Family after reaching the seventh layer of Qi-Refining.
Other than planning for an opportunity to reach Foundation Establishment, he was now at the point where he could travel around in the lower level of the cultivation world and didn't need to rely heavily on the Mu Famil's spiritual veins.
Late-stage Qi-Refining and a superior-grade first-rank talisman master.
In the various marketplaces of the Liang Kingdom's cultivation world, he could live comfortably.
All major Foundation Establishment families would be willing to hire him as a guest elder.
His status and position were slightly lower than that of Alchemist Ge, but his actual strength was much higher.
(End of this chapter)
We are nearing the end of this volume.