Chapter 91: First Encounter with Tianshu
The news of Daoist Tianshu left Lan Chang'an excited.
In his previous life, this Worldly Wonder had emerged in Great Kun, and now traces of him had again been found in Great Qing. This confirmed his suspicion that the two cultivation realms of Great Qing and Great Kun were both within the vast and boundless Heaven Honoured Continent.
He wanted to meet the Daoist Tianshu, not only to gather information but also because this mysterious traveling merchant represented a unique opportunity for any cultivator fortunate enough to meet him. Some took advantage of this chance, while others let it slip through their fingers.
In his previous life, Lan Chang'an had a chance encounter with a Core Formation cultivator who had acquired a powerful exotic treasure from Daoist Tianshu.
"Back to Senior Lan, that was eight years ago. At that time, I encountered that traveling merchant within a temple in the Outer City," answered Puppet Master Sang.
Lan Chang'an inquired further about the details.
Using a unique stone passed down in his family, Puppet Master Sang traded for a puppet inheritance along with its core spiritual sense secret technique from Daoist Tianshu, a significant opportunity for a Qi-Refining loose cultivator.
Lan Chang'an suspected Puppet Master Sang had already refined a second-rank puppet and could contend with early Foundation Establishment cultivators.
"Unfortunately, all these years have passed."
Lan Chang'an felt disappointed; as a traveling merchant, Daoist Tianshu usually stayed in one place for only a short while.
Without a specific need, he wouldn't linger for long. It seemed that this opportunity would not present itself to him.
...
The next day, Lan Chang'an—perhaps out of lingering curiosity, perhaps being unwilling—paid a visit to the Outer City.
The temple mentioned by Puppet Master Sang was dilapidated and abandoned, with no one in sight even in broad daylight.
Lan Chang'an sighed, preparing to turn around and leave.
"This little friend, have you come to seek this humble Daoist?" A calm voice echoed from the corner of the temple.
Lan Chang'an's mind and body shook as he looked towards the source: a yellow-robed Daoist, roughly forty- or fifty-years-old. His features were unremarkable, with a slightly square face and a beard beneath his chin, and his eyes shone brightly.
Carrying a large chest on his back, looking dusty and weary, he gave off the impression of a wandering merchant.
"Are you Senior Tianshu?" Lan Chang'an took a deep breath, suppressing his emotions.
To have the honor of meeting this Worldly Wonder, even at the peak of Core Formation in his previous life, would be an opportunity. Many Nascent Soul old monsters would also be eager for such an encounter, though it was not something one could seek.
"Hehe, this humble Daoist is just a traveling merchant. Little friend, there's no need to address me as a senior," Daoist Tianshu smiled warmly, with a smoothness characteristic of merchants.
"How should I address you, little friend?"
"My surname is Lan." Lan Chang'an calmed down. His considerable spiritual sense, as well as the Evergreen Technique, were not worth mentioning in the face of this extraordinary individual.
Daoist Tianshu was strictly neutral and conducted all transactions fairly. He had dealt with so many major powers and cultivators of all classes without ever defrauding anyone.
"So it's Little Friend Lan. This humble Daoist predicted two months ago that there would be another business opportunity in Huanglong Immortal City, so I returned," Daoist Tianshu retrieved the large cage from his back as he spoke.
Divination arts! Lan Chang'an's heart skipped a beat; this Worldly Wonder had foreseen his arrival.
Divination usually wasn't always accurate, which was why Daoist Tianshu had chosen to wait here rather than seek him out.
"Dare I ask senior where you came from?" Lan Chang'an couldn't directly ask about the Great Kun from his previous life, so he first side-stepped the question. Although reincarnation was a matter of little significance in the eyes of the man before him.
"This humble daoist came from Fenghua Prefecture, Great Jin Immortal Dynasty, passing through what you call the Great Qing," Daoist Tianshu smiled.
"Great Jin Immortal Dynasty?"
Lan Chang'an's mind stirred. When he had formed his Dan in his previous life, he had faintly heard related rumors, and it was said to be one of the most powerful forces in this world. Now, he confirmed the existence of the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty from the mouth of Daoist Tianshu.
He no longer needed to inquire about Great Kun; it must share the same continent as Great Qing. If he could advance to the Nascent Soul Realm, he would have the ability to cross regions.
"Little Friend Lan, this humble Daoist wishes to make a transaction with you." Daoist Tianshu took out three items from the chest.
Lan Chang'an was instantly attracted.
The first item was a spiritual wood with blue-patterned bark, emitting peculiar spiritual fluctuations.
The spiritual pressure made Lan Chang'an's breath hitch.
"A third-rank spiritual wood."
Lan Chang'an's heart leaped.
His Treasure Talisman Project required excellent spiritual wood bark, ideally second-rank or higher, and third-rank was the best.
The second item was a black pill bottle with a label detailing the contents inside.
"A third-rank Life Extension Pill!" Lan Chang'an swallowed hard.
A third-rank Life Extension Pill could extend lifespan by over thirty years. Produced by Daoist Tianshu, it could very possibly be a product of premium quality, granting even better effects.
If he consumed it, the lifespan he would gain would be double the usual amount, and his Evergreen mana would also receive a boost.
The third item was a crystal bottle containing a clear liquid which seemed composed of many tiny crystals.
"Core Formation spiritual item, Tianjing Water!" Lan Chang'an's breathing grew heavier. Tianjing Water could increase the quality of the finished Dan by some margin.
Each of these items was exactly what he needed. This was no coincidence, and it was likely that Daoist Tianshu's Divination Arts had predicted his needs.
"How would Daoist Tianshu like to proceed?" Lan Chang'an regained his composure; Daoist Tianshu must have sought him out for a reason.
"This humble daoist needs Little Friend Lan to expend one year of lifespan to provide vitality for this item." Daoist Tianshu produced a peach wood branch, roughly an infant's arm thick. The branch was withered, yet emanated a faint glow, and the aura it exuded made Lan Chang'an's heart skip a beat.
In his previous life, he had seen up to fourth-rank spiritual objects at most, but this peach wood branch surpassed even those, at least fifth-rank.
Daoist Tianshu mentioned consuming lifespan, clearly aware of his practice of the Ancient Trees Evergreen Technique, he was not half surprised.
"Whether to trade or not is entirely up to Little Friend Lan. After the transaction, you may choose any one of these three items in exchange."
Daoist Tianshu pointed to the third-rank spiritual wood, Life Extension Pill, and Tianjing Water before him.
Choose one of the three?
Lan Chang'an knew that no matter which one he chose, he would profit.
A year of lifespan was nothing, he could just buy a Life Extension Pill and make up for it several times over.
Honestly, he wanted all three items, but he could only pick one.
"I agree to this trade."
How could Lan Chang'an miss out on such an opportunity?
At Daoist Tianshu's signal, He approached the peach wood branch, consumed his lifespan, and activated the Evergreen Technique's healing secret spell.
His palm exuded a verdant and ancient aura, like a tender sprout, merging into the withered half of the peach wood branch.
After spending a year's worth of longevity, Lan Chang'an stopped.
Examining it closely, The branch's withering state had halted; it now pulsated with few bits of fresh vitality.
But it didn't truly reverse from withering to flourishing.
Deep in thought, Lan Chang'an realized the peach wood branch's rank was too high; his current level of the Evergreen Technique couldn't couldn't affect its fundamental nature.
Daoist Tianshu's request had only been for him to inject some life force, maintaining its "freshness" and preventing the peach wood branch from dying away.
"Young Friend Lan, please choose an item." Daoist Tianshu gestured generously.
"I choose the Tianjing Water." Lan Chang'an promptly decided.
Cultivation was the foundation of everything. Tianjing Water which could elevate the Dan's quality, naturally became his top priority.
With this extra item, his chances of forming a True-Dan in the future greatly increased.
This was related to whether he could advance to the Nascent Soul Realm in this life.
Daoist Tianshu handed the crystal bottle containing Tianjing Water to Lan Chang'an.
He then carefully stored the peach wood branch back into the large chest.
"May I ask, Daoist, what is the use of this peach wood branch?" Lan Chang'an inquired curiously.
Daoist Tianshu's willingness to this exchange indicated it would indeed yield a greater profit for him.
"This matter isn't a secret on Heaven Honoured Continent; this humble daoist can tell you without any charge." Daoist Tianshu replied with a smile as he strapped the case onto his back.
"The Great Jin Immortal Dynasty aims to follow the legendary tales of ancient immortality related to the Qin dynasty by forging the 'Nine-Five Supreme Treasure Dragon Artifacts' to subdue the dynasty's spiritual fortune. The peach wood branch I just showed you is a material for one of these supreme treasures, the 'Imperial Dragon Shoes,' with which you can exchange benefits in the Great Jin Immortal Dynasty."
Nine-Five Supreme Treasure Dragon Artifacts?
Though Lan Chang'an didn't know its origins, it was undoubtedly no ordinary magical object.
Nine-Five hinted at the utmost supremacy.
He had a hunch that if the complete set of Nine-Five Supreme Treasure Dragon Artifacts were successfully forged, it would have a profound impact on the situation in Heaven Honoured Continent.
Of course, such concerns were not relevant to a lowly Foundation Establishment cultivator like himself.
...
"Alright, the transaction ends here." Daoist Tianshu stepped outside the temple in one stride.
"Daoist Tianshu, may I ask about the origins of my Evergreen Technique?" Lan Chang'an chased after him.
"There's nothing on you that this humble monk desires, insufficient to barter for this information."
With these final words, Daoist Tianshu vanished without a trace.
Lan Chang'an put away the Tianjing Water and stood in place, long unable to calm himself.
This mysterious encounter with Daoist Tianshu had challenged the limits of Lan Chang'an's previous life's knowledge.
Rumor had it that Daoist Tianshu was not a normal creature, but rather a special entity resembling a puppet, which carried out certain missions through constant transactions.
Daoist Tianshu was merely one of the many extraordinary individuals featured in the Worldly Wonders series.
"As long as I live long enough, my Evergreen mana will grow stronger. The secrets of this heaven and earth won't be hidden from me."
....
A few days later, Lan Chang'an purchased a second-rank flying boat from the Huanglong Immortal City, leaving him with very few spirit stones.
It was high time to sell those Foundation Establishment Pills.
Before setting off, he informed Zhao Siyao. Zhao Siyao had yet to reach mid-Foundation Establishment and planned to stay in the Huanglong Immortal City for another two years to continue cultivating.
Lan Chang'an piloted his flying boat, leaving behind the Huanglong Immortal City, where he had been cultivating for over twenty years, heading straight for the Mu family's residence at Feiyue Lake.
(End of chapter)
This book has no plot connection with Immortal Hong Road. It merely borrows a classic set of magical treasures from back then, serving as a nod to the past.
T/N: ^One of author's other novels which ended over a decade ago.