Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 128 Blood Shadow Escape
Under the cover of night, Yun Yao, dressed in white, arrived at Lin Chang'an's cave.

At this moment, starlight and moonlight shone into the cave through the opening in the cave, and the sound of flowing water could be heard all around.

“Brother Lin, this secret technique requires our hearts to be in sync to be of the same mind to be of the greatest effect, even if we are disciples who have grown up in the sect.”

It takes decades of practice to achieve perfect coordination. There's no rush between us; we can take our time. As long as we can master this combined attack technique within twenty years, that's enough.

Hearing Yun Yao's words, Lin Chang'an naturally understood and nodded slightly.

This legitimate dual cultivation method, though powerful in the later stages, has too many unforeseen circumstances, resulting in very few people being able to cultivate it consistently to the end.

That's why some exceptionally talented individuals have modified this dual cultivation technique into all sorts of bizarre and unorthodox methods.

They also lost their original intention.

"I understand. Let's get to know each other's magical powers first."

Lin Chang'an nodded. This was a technique that required slow and meticulous work; the dual cultivation and combined attack secret technique emphasized a gradual approach.

Lin Chang'an and Yun Yao, both with solemn expressions, sat cross-legged in the cave, their palms pressed together, beginning to practice this secret technique.

Until the morning of the next day.

[Yin Yang Combination Attack Secret Technique +8 (Beginner 8/100)]

Finally, after a night, Lin Chang'an and Yun Yao breathed a sigh of relief. This combined attack technique was powerful, but it was also extremely difficult.

The biggest challenge is mutual trust, allowing magical powers to merge and form a yin-yang balance, which in turn increases cultivation speed.

"We've finally taken the first step."

Wiping the sweat from her brow, Yun Yao looked at Lin Chang'an, a glint of admiration flashing in her eyes, and couldn't help but sigh:
“Brother Lin has been practicing basic techniques since the Qi Refining stage, but the Everlasting Spring Technique also has its own advantages, namely, it is a technique that is accumulated over time and has almost no major drawbacks.”

Clearly, Yun Yao had also begun to experience the gentle effects of this wood attribute through their dual cultivation last night.

Lin Chang'an also sighed, although Yun Yao's magic power was extremely yin and cold, it was still a water-attribute technique in the end.

"Fellow Daoist Yun's Gui Water Demon Art is indeed worthy of being a top-tier demonic technique."

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly. In the Five Elements, water nourishes wood, so cultivating both would naturally bring him greater benefits.

Even at the initial stage of nurturing wood with water, he could feel the wood-attribute magic power within his body briefly becoming active.

This is also the reason why Yun Yao is confident that she can help him break through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment within ten years.

"Brother Lin, this secret technique cannot be mastered in a day. If there is nothing else, I will come over at night. If you need anything, just leave me a communication jade talisman in advance."

Now that the dual cultivation technique had begun, Yun Yao, with her forthright personality, naturally didn't hesitate. Instead, she smiled frankly and told them about the future cultivation schedule.

"Alright, if Fellow Daoist Yun needs anything in the future, just let me know in advance."

The two sides have only made a preliminary attempt, and there is still a long way to go before they can unleash this combined attack technique.

After Yun Yao left, Lin Chang'an resumed his daily cultivation.

This time, he also changed the crystal cores needed for cultivating the Condensation Yuan Technique to mid-stage second-tier crystal cores.

The resources obtained from the last monster hunt allowed Lin Chang'an to enjoy a period of peace and tranquility.

Every day, they drew talismans, refined pills, and cultivated. In the evenings, Yun Yao would come over every few days. The two became familiar with each other, and their Yin-Yang dual cultivation and combined attack secret technique was gradually increasing in power.

……

Time flies, and a year has passed in the blink of an eye.

【Lifespan: 66/217】

[Realm: Early Foundation Establishment Stage (68/100)]

Inside the cave, Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes, looked at his cultivation progress, and couldn't help but show a satisfied smile.

"I never expected this Yin-Yang dual cultivation technique to have such an effect."

It's important to understand that for cultivators who have reached the Foundation Establishment stage, gaining even a little experience over a year is incredibly difficult.

Moreover, it's only their first year together, and their compatibility still needs to be honed.

"We should be content. Relying on pills, we can only gain four more experience points a year. This beginner-level dual cultivation technique can gain two more points a year, and it has no side effects. It's already quite rare."

Looking at the ten experience points gained in a year, Lin Chang'an sighed. No wonder the cultivation world would improve this technique and turn it into a quick-fix furnace that harms others and benefits oneself.

Simply put, this kind of rapid improvement in cultivation has no side effects, so who wouldn't love it?

"Perhaps Yun Yao's fast cultivation speed is also related to the cultivation method she practices."

At the same time, Lin Chang'an secretly guessed that Yun Yao had asked him to draw explosive talismans on his body before, probably because she was worried that he would be targeted by someone again one day.

He only knew that the Gui Water Demon Art was a top-tier technique of the demonic path, used by the Golden Core Huang family patriarch of the Li Huo Palace to select a furnace cauldron; he knew nothing else about it.

"However, the cultivation resources have been almost used up this year."

At this moment, Lin Chang'an shook his head secretly. The cultivation resources he had obtained from the last hunt of demonic beasts were now almost gone.

The main problem is that we've run out of pills to enhance cultivation, so we need to refine pills using crystal cores.

Most of the resources have been used to cultivate my natal spiritual plant over the past year.

Otherwise, the resources from five second-tier demonic beasts would be enough for a Foundation Establishment cultivator to cultivate peacefully for several years.

"Looks like I'll have to go out again."

Lin Chang'an nodded secretly, but this time he was more confident.

Not only has his cultivation improved, but more importantly, he now possesses a new defensive magical artifact.

"However, we still can't be careless; we need to prepare more preventative measures."

Lin Chang'an slowly got up. He usually relied on drawing talismans to refine pills and secretly exchanged resources in the market. He was not lacking in spiritual herbs and fruits.

It's just lacking crystal nuclei.

"However, whether it's the secret realm Yun Yao mentioned in the future or just going out normally, it's best to prepare an escape spell or a magical artifact."

Lin Chang'an decided against considering flying artifacts for the time being.

In the misty mountains, manipulating a flying artifact is akin to being a beacon in the darkness—it's tantamount to courting death.

Stepping out of the cave, Lin Chang'an smiled as he looked at the lazy green-horned ox basking in the sun.

“Ox, you’ve rested enough this year. Let’s continue our journey. Work hard, and one day your master will provide you with a top-grade spiritual artifact armor.”

Enticed by Lin Chang'an's words, the Green Horned Ox excitedly mooed as it emerged from the pool.

It hadn't thought about magical artifacts or armor; its instinctive craving for crystal cores was ingrained in its blood.

The high-grade armor worn by the Green Horned Ox during its last trip to the Cloud Mist Mountains had long since been destroyed.

Lin Chang'an had also decided that when he returned this time, he would first equip the Green Horned Ox with a set of armor, so that it could hunt monsters more effectively.

"gone."

After Lin Chang'an put the Green Horned Ox into his spirit beast bag, he placed the stone with the words "Seclusion" written on it outside the cave to prevent anyone from disturbing him.

As for Yun Yao, he had already mentioned it a few days ago.

Yun Yao understood immediately, after all, she would occasionally disappear for a month or two to handle her own private matters.

Every monk has his own secrets.

Lin Chang'an disguised himself and left Tianxuan City, causing no disturbance whatsoever to the bustling city of rogue cultivators.

……

Several months later, deep in the Cloud and Mist Mountains.

The ever-present, faint white mist carries a warning of death.

Under the blazing sun, the white mist shimmered with pale purple or pale green hues, revealing to the cultivators that this was the most terrifying miasma in the Cloud Mist Mountains.

"Moo!"

From the depths of the miasma came an angry moo from a cow, followed by a violent rumble that seemed to shake the earth.

The towering ancient trees were collapsing with a constant rumbling sound.

"Moo!" Finally, amidst the dust and smoke, the Green Horned Ox, with its glaring eyes, triumphantly crushed a poisonous insect to pieces.

“You stupid ox, at least the skin of this poisonous insect had some value, now all that’s left is the crystal core.”

Lin Chang'an emerged from the dust and glared at the stupid ox with annoyance.

Every time, he gets so excited that he doesn't care about anything else.

The scolded ox seemed to have gotten used to it, and instead began to moo ingratiatingly.

Lin Chang'an shook his head at the sight.

The most abundant creatures in this poisonous miasma are these furry, soft, poisonous insects. They are extremely venomous, but apart from the area under their crystal cores, only their skin has any value.

This is also the type of demonic beast that cultivators least want to hunt.

It's extremely dangerous, and it's not very valuable either.

The risks and rewards are completely disproportionate.

"I really don't know how these poisonous insects grow."

Lin Chang'an shook his head, raised his hand and used his magic to extract the crystal core from the poisonous insect's brain, then sat on the ox's back and slowly disappeared into the poisonous miasma.

All that remained was a pool of green, minced meat, which, over time, became nourishment for the land.

……

Wanbao Tower.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, that's truly a remarkable skill, six second-tier demonic beast materials."

The old man surnamed Feng, who had just reached the Foundation Establishment stage, nodded with a smile on his face.

He wasn't curious about how Lin Chang'an hunted the monsters; it was just six early-stage second-tier monsters.

He was simply impressed by the unwavering resolve of this fellow Daoist Lin, who, even after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage with a low-grade spiritual root aptitude, was still persisting in arduous cultivation.

"Fellow Daoist Feng, you flatter me. It is all thanks to this ox's unparalleled strength that few demonic beasts of the same level can rival it."

Lin Chang'an smiled and waved his hand as he spoke, while the old man surnamed Feng also smiled and nodded.

Based on his experience, he could naturally tell that most of these monster materials bore the marks left by the Green Horned Bull's collisions.

Then, in certain joints and vital weak points, the sword's edge still lingered.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, there's no need to be so modest. Everyone knows how helpful a second-tier spirit pet can be, but how many people can actually raise a second-tier spirit pet?"

The old man surnamed Feng shook his head. Buying a spirit pet is easy, but raising it to the second tier is too difficult.

Otherwise, the Zhou family, the most famous beast-taming family in Tianxuan City, has grown stronger over the years, but the family still only has a few second-tier spirit pets.

Spirit pets need resources, just like cultivators; sometimes investment doesn't guarantee a return.

But independent cultivators don't have that many resources.

Lin Chang'an is a mid-grade second-tier talisman master, and he also has a second-tier spirit pet, so it's normal that he has achieved what he has today.

Lin Chang'an nodded with a smile. It was true that having just one second-tier spirit pet was enough for him to gain a foothold among ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivators.

"I wonder if Fellow Daoist Lin is also exchanging all his resources for cultivation resources this time?"

Faced with the old man surnamed Feng's question, Lin Chang'an feigned hesitation for a moment, but finally gritted his teeth and said:

"Fellow Daoist Feng, I would like to replace this ox with a spiritual energy armor."

Upon seeing Lin Chang'an's choice, Elder Feng couldn't help but show his approval and nodded, saying:

"Fellow Daoist Lin, there are gains and losses. A powerful spirit pet will definitely help you go further."

The fact that Lin Chang'an is willing to spend so much on his spirit pet proves at least one thing: his unwavering resolve in his Dao.

Otherwise, an ordinary Foundation Establishment cultivator would have enough with one Tier 2 spirit pet; they could simply use the remaining resources on themselves.

However, Feng Lao has seen too much in his life. There is always a trade-off. This approach may not always be correct, but as long as one is not too unlucky, this method can generally help one go further.

"Spirit pet armor is rare, but our Wanbaolou has everything. This spirit-grade Xuan Iron armor is incredibly hard and is perfect for spirit pets with immense strength."

Immediately afterwards, a set of armor made of the same material as his defensive magical artifact appeared. It felt heavy in his hand, and Lin Chang'an put it away with satisfaction.

Although he needed to buy armor for Niu'er, he had to let others see his hesitation. After all, he was just a rogue cultivator who was willing to split every spirit stone in half, not a disciple of a major sect or clan.

Therefore, some cover-ups still need to be done.

With this defensive armor, the Green Horned Ox's combat power increased significantly.

"I also need an escape spell, or a magical artifact, do you have one?"

When Lin Chang'an stated his needs, the elderly man surnamed Feng smiled and nodded, saying:
"Flying magical artifacts are not very useful in the Cloud Mist Mountains, since they are easy targets. There are demonic beasts among them, as well as cultivators. One should know the treacherous nature of people's hearts."

At this point, the old man Feng gave Lin Chang'an a meaningful look.

Lin Chang'an was well aware that flying magical artifacts were too conspicuous. If they saw that you were alone, some cultivators might be tempted to become a tribulation cultivator.

"And the miasma deep within these mountains prevents divine sense from probing, so ordinary escape techniques are not very effective. But I do have a few..."

After the old man Feng introduced the product, Lin Chang'an was somewhat tempted, but he secretly pondered.

These escape techniques are not only expensive, but more importantly, they are also quite conventional.

In fact, he prefers the kind of escape techniques that are associated with demonic arts, and the slight cost is not a concern for his self-healing body.

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but show a touch of melancholy, then shook his head and said:
"Fellow Daoist Feng, you know that I am just a rogue cultivator. Do I possess any demonic escape techniques?"

Regarding the choice of cultivators, the elderly man surnamed Feng, the manager of Wanbaolou, did not inquire further, but nodded solemnly and said:

"What Fellow Daoist Lin said makes sense. Although this demonic magic has great side effects, when life and death are at stake, everything else is meaningless."

As long as I can come back, any cost is negligible.

The old man surnamed Feng understood Lin Chang'an's choice; a rogue cultivator is poor, so naturally he should choose the most suitable option.

Moreover, those who can use these spells must be in a critical situation, where they can't afford to worry about anything else.

Those who survive are the best.

"This Blood Shadow Escape technique is a well-known escape technique in the cultivation world. It is still relevant even for Golden Core cultivators, and it is relatively inexpensive."

There's one thing you must remember, fellow cultivator: if a cultivator suffers severe loss of vital essence, at best they'll be seriously injured and need years of recuperation; at worst, their cultivation will regress, and sometimes they might even drop a major realm.

The old man surnamed Feng solemnly took out this escape technique, which was renowned throughout the cultivation world and was regarded by countless cultivators as their trump card for escaping.

"I see."

Lin Chang'an nodded solemnly. This escape technique was activated by cultivators in times of crisis by consuming their own essence and blood.

Even so, he dared not expend too much energy.

However, due to the power of his self-healing body, no matter how severe the injury, as long as he has enough spirit stones and resources and his essence is not damaged, he can recover in the shortest amount of time.

However, the so-called cheap price left Lin Chang'an speechless.

You call 700 mid-grade spirit stones cheap?

Lin Chang'an was speechless for a moment, but after looking at the side effects of Blood Shadow Escape, he began to ponder.

With one-third of his essence and blood depleted, he will only need to retreat into seclusion to recover for a period of time.

Having consumed two-thirds of his power, a slight decline in his cultivation level is probably inevitable.

However, if he depletes more than two-thirds of his energy, even with his self-healing abilities, it will damage his very essence, causing immeasurable consequences.

"As for magical artifacts used in escape techniques, these generally need to be custom-made and are quite expensive."

When Lin Chang'an saw the price, he was speechless. He shook his head and exchanged the rest of the items for cultivation resources.

He already has the Blood Shadow Escape technique, so there's no rush for spiritual artifacts.

After all, even he would need some time to accumulate over a thousand mid-grade spirit stones.

Don't flaunt your wealth; take it slow.

(End of this chapter)