Chapter 71: Middle-Grade Second-Rank
Returning to Water Moon Residence.
Lan Chang'an was very patient and continued to wait for opportunities.
After all, he had plenty of lifespan and still needed some years to cultivate to the peak of the ninth layer of Qi-Refining.
"Senior Brother Lan, these are the spirit stones from the sale of talismans in the past month." On this day, Guan Qiaozhi handed a bag containing spirit stones to Lan Chang'an.
After Master Guan passed away.
Guan Qiaozhi no longer set up a stall and devoted herself to serving Lan Chang'an, processing raw materials needed for drawing talismans.
The talismans drawn by Lan Chang'an were sold by Guan Qiaozhi, who liaised with familiar customers.
Living in Jinxiu Lane for over a decade, the talismans Lan Chang'an sold earned a good reputation, and he currently had a stable batch of customers.
Lan Chang'an, now over sixty years old, displayed the skills of a top-tier first-rank talisman master. Everything was falling into place.
"Keep these ten spirit stones for your personal expenses." Lan Chang'an left some spirit stones for Guan Qiaozhi.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lan." Guan Qiaozhi said, her pretty eyes sparkled.
In the evening, Lan Chang'an prepared to draw talismans, with all materials prepared in advance.
"Senior Brother Lan, I'll help you prepare the spirit ink." Guan Qiaozhi entered the talisman room.
She wore a translucent gauze dress without any inner garments, paired with her delicate, pure, and youthful face, making her look innocently seductive.
Lan Chang'an glanced at her. "Change your clothes."
"Uh-huh."
Guan Qiaozhi's face burned like a cloud lit by fire. She quickly went back to her room and changed into a long dress that covered all the way down her calves.
Lan Chang'an nodded in satisfaction.
After Guan Qiaozhi prepared the spirit ink and left the talisman room, he began drawing talismans.
......
In the blink of an eye, three years had passed.
Lan Chang'an was now sixty-five years old.
He had not obtained the Xuanling Fruit. At least within Alchemist Hua's circle, no one had provided this item.
But Huanglong Immortal City was not the only place.
Someone else in the Huanglong Immortal City might have had one, but Lan Chang'an and Du Wei were both Qi-Refining cultivators, and their social circles were limited.
However, the Xuanling Fruit in Fu Xuemei's possession did eventually lead to some results.
A disciple from Alchemist Hua's lineage helped bridge the connection.
A ninth-layer Qi-Refining family cultivator paid a considerable price, cooperating with others to provide the remaining materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill.
This time, Alchemist Hua performed well, refining three Foundation Establishment Pills.
Two were genuine, and one was inferior.
The cooperation was successful.
The family cultivator not only obtained the Foundation Establishment Pill but also established good relations with Fu Xuemei.
Two years ago, when Lan Chang'an learned of this, he remained silent for a moment.
If he had cooperated back then, he would have already obtained a standard Foundation Establishment Pill.
Sometimes, being too cautious indeed reduces risks, but it also misses some opportunities.
"Good fortune is mine when I get it. It is my fate when I lose it."
Lan Chang'an practiced his Life-Nurturing Technique and quickly adjusted his mindset without dwelling on the matter.
Actually, he also received good news.
Watching for so many years, Alchemist Hua's alchemy skills had significantly improved.
According to Du Wei, Alchemist Hua touched the threshold of a superior-grade second-rank alchemist, though he hadn't truly stepped into it.
In terms of alchemy expertise, excluding alchemists from major forces, Alchemist Hua was one of the best in Huanglong Immortal City.
As for Du Wei, due to having many wives and children and indulging in pleasure, he only touched the threshold of a low-grade second-rank alchemist over the years.
......
In the past three years.
Due to stepping into the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, Lan Chang'an's spiritual sense further increased, reaching about thirty-seven or thirty-eight zhang.
Normally, the spiritual sense range of early Foundation Establishment was around thirty zhang.
This meant Lan Chang'an's spiritual strength slightly exceeded that of an ordinary early Foundation Establishment.
The benefit brought about by this was the increase in Lan Chang'an's ability to draw talismans.
At the eighth layer of Qi-Refining, he could only draw low-grade second-rank talismans, which were considered strong trump cards.
Now, he could attempt to draw middle-grade second-rank talismans. However, due to the limitations of mana and materials, the success rate was low.
Lan Chang'an selected better low-grade second-rank talisman paper, paying a considerable price. Relying on his exquisite skills as a third-rank talisman master from his previous life, he refined three middle-grade second-rank talismans.
What do middle-grade second-rank talismans mean?
Guided and controlled by Lan Chang'an's strong spiritual sense, they could unleash the power of mid-stage Foundation Establishment spells.
Used appropriately, they could injure or even kill early Foundation Establishment in actual combat.
Of course, if it were a normal late Qi-Refining cultivator, even if they obtained middle-grade second-rank talismans, they would find it difficult to guide and control them accurately, significantly reducing their threat to Foundation Establishment. If not controlled properly, they might even harm themselves.
......
"Senior Brother Lan, there will be a large auction in Huanglong Immortal City soon. Will you attend?"
In the courtyard, Guan Qiaozhi, who had just changed the water for the Pround Water Turtle's pond, asked with sparkling eyes, full of anticipation.
"I'm not going. During the auction, it's very lively around. You can buy something you like." Lan Chang'an handed Guan Qiaozhi a small bag of spirit stones.
"Thank you, Senior Brother Lan. While I'm not here, this puppet dog can help look after the house."
Guan Qiaozhi smiled happily and took out a seven-foot-long puppet dog from her storage pouch. The materials seemed to be a mix of wood and metal, with deep green eyes that moved slightly.
Guan Qiaozhi performed a simple puppet control technique, and the puppet dog began running around the courtyard.
The Profound Water Turtle was startled and dived into the pond with a splash.
Guan Qiaozhi's puppet dog was a gift from the puppet master neighbor, Sang. Because of her skillful hands, she had once helped Sang with some puppet parts.
Lan Chang'an observed for a moment, showing a peculiar expression.
Although this puppet dog was only low-grade first-rank, its relatively agile movements indicated a crafting skill exceeding that of an ordinary superior-grade first-rank puppet master.
With his previous life's experience as a core formation cultivator, Lan Chang'an noticed the details.
When Lan Chang'an first moved into Water Moon Residence, he had dealings with Puppet Master Sang.
At that time, Sang claimed he could only create middle-grade first-rank puppets.
"In the past twenty years, has Puppet Master Sang's skill significantly improved, or was he hiding his true ability back then?" Lan Chang'an pondered.
If Sang could create top superior-grade first-rank puppets, it would be a regular combat strength supplement for him.
After all, the Evergreen Technique was not good at combat; it might take him hundreds of years to achieve a qualitative change.
......
The date of the large auction in Huanglong Immortal City approached.
Lan Chang'an had attended such large-scale auctions before, where late Foundation Establishment and even Fake-Dan cultivators were present.
Even if he attended, he wouldn't dare to act rashly.
It was better to avoid unnecessary trouble and not participate.
Ten days before the large auction, the flow of people in Huanglong Immortal City increased sharply.
At Water Moon Residence, a distant visitor arrived.
"Is this Lan Chang'an's residence?"
An old, deep voice came from the courtyard entrance.
"Senior, who might you be?"
Guan Qiaozhi looked at the elderly man in front of her, wearing a bamboo hat.
At the ninth layer of Qi-Refining, his demeanor was calm, with the aura of an old Confucian scholar.
Despite the years and wrinkles on his face, they could not hide his once-handsome appearance.
"I am Mu Maode, here to visit Talisman Master Lan." The elderly man cupped his hands, smiling kindly.
"Qiaozhi, quickly invite Senior Mu in."
Lan Chang'an, playing by the pond with the Profound Water Turtle, hurried to greet him.
"Lan Chang'an, you haven't changed at all over the years."
The elderly man, with a complex expression, stepped into the courtyard.
In Lan Chang'an's eyes, the middle-aged man in the green robe who had stood at Jin Yun Valley's main gate forty or fifty years ago slowly merged with the old man standing in front of him now.
Lan Chang'an was now sixty-five years old.
By this calculation, Mu Maode was at least in his eighties or nineties, nearing a hundred years old.
Cultivators could mostly delay aging but once they approached the end of their lifespan, their appearance would age rapidly, reverting to their true form.
"It's just a minor Life-Nurturing Technique of the wood system. Senior Mu, please come in and have a seat."
Lan Chang'an raised his hand to invite him in.
(End of chapter)