Immortality and cultivation begin with drawing talismans...

Chapter 136 Bull Charge
Cloud-shrouded mountains.

"My magic power has almost recovered, it's time to go back."

Within the poisonous miasma zone, Lin Chang'an slowly put away the array plates and flags that had been used to guard the area.

Having been out for several months, he had hunted three mid-stage second-tier monsters this time, a harvest that was comparable to that of an elite monster-hunting team.

Even the three Foundation Establishment stage cultivators that Lao Hu had previously formed a demon-hunting team, ventured deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains and only managed to hunt two mid-stage second-tier demon beasts and one early-stage second-tier demon beast.

His success was due not only to the Green Horned Ox and his own cultivation of the Fiend Yuan Sword Technique, which was comparable in power to a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, but also largely to his self-healing body.

"The withered leaves of the Mysterious Heavenly Vine are my natal spiritual plants. Even the initial feedback has such an effect. I wonder how miraculous the effect will be after the whole leaf is revived."

Even after he has been in the Core Formation stage for a long time, it can continue to be nurtured, sprout, and grow. Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an couldn't help but feel excited.

At that time, even a Nascent Soul stage might not be out of the question.

However, Lin Chang'an calmed down the next moment. He was only in the middle stage of Foundation Establishment, so he should not be too ambitious.

First, focus on cultivation and strive to break through to the late Foundation Establishment stage as soon as possible, then look for spiritual objects that can help you form your Core.

"Moo!"

The green-horned ox beside him exuded a terrifying aura, which made Lin Chang'an nod in satisfaction and praise.

This time, there was another great gain: the Green Horned Ox consumed a mid-stage second-tier demon core during its adventure, as well as some discovered spiritual fruits and herbs.

With its current surging momentum, it will probably break through in a year or two at most and become a mid-stage second-tier spirit pet.

"With my own mid-Foundation Establishment cultivation and a mid-second-tier spirit pet, my wealth and resources are already more abundant than some elite Foundation Establishment disciples of sects."

This made Lin Chang'an nod in satisfaction.

Foundation Establishment cultivators are also divided into different ranks, and he is currently in the category of the one who will die from overwatering.

Chen Qing's situation is like a drought that's killing them.

Lacking the skills to earn enough cultivation resources and not daring to risk hunting demonic beasts, he will only reach the early stage of Foundation Establishment in this lifetime.

They didn't even have a single magical artifact; they were using high-grade magical artifacts from the Qi Refining stage.

This is also the norm for most Foundation Establishment cultivators.

After all, very few people have the talent for second-tier skills; most people's skills can no longer keep up after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

"Let's go, we've come back with a full load this time, let's go home."

Lin Chang'an chuckled and gently patted the cow's back, and the Green Horned Ox responded with an excited moo.

This time it finally understood what its master meant by "intensity," and it could finally go back and get some rest.

……

A miasma-filled area in the Cloud and Mist Mountains.

Two masked Foundation Establishment cultivators, having sat in silence for months, finally couldn't help but start complaining.

"Senior brother, do you think this person has gone deep into the Cloud Mist Mountains for so long? Could he have died in there?"

"Shut up! These rogue cultivators are fighting tooth and nail inside, while we can just sit outside and wait for our prey to come to us. If you don't want this kind of good thing, go back to your sect."

"No, senior brother, I was just venting. I don't want to go back."

Both of them were direct disciples of the Li Huo Palace. At this moment, the junior brother had a fawning smile on his face and was talking to his senior brother in a very attentive manner.

"You should be content. These rogue cultivators are exhausted from fighting with the demonic beasts, and some of them are even injured."

"Senior brother is brilliant! Isn't this what they call the mantis stalking the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind?

Faced with the praise from his fellow Foundation Establishment cultivator junior brother, this senior brother also revealed a smug smile.

This is a lucrative job; although they have to hand over a portion of it, they can still make a fortune.

“Learn from him carefully. Senior Brother Li accumulated his wealth by taking on lucrative positions and resources, and he is currently in seclusion in Tianxuan City preparing for a breakthrough.”

When they talked about Senior Brother Li, both of them showed envy. They wanted to break through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage as well.

Just then, the senior brother's spirit beast pouch suddenly stirred, and he immediately showed a look of joy.

"This rogue cultivator has finally decided to come out. Let's go and inform Senior Brother Huang."

"Ah!" When he heard that he was to inform Senior Brother Huang, the junior brother's face changed, and his face was full of fear.

The senior brother standing to the side glared, his eyes filled with fear.

"What, Senior Brother, are you going to use Senior Brother Huang's spirit beast to examine this rogue cultivator...?"

However, at that moment, a flash of silver light suddenly emerged from the ground. A look of fear crossed the faces of the two men, but they quickly and respectfully stood up.

"Congratulations, Senior Brother Huang! Your magical power has greatly increased, and you will live a long and healthy life. Achieving the Golden Core Dao in the future will certainly not be a problem."

The two brothers lowered their heads to hide their inner fear and offered extremely ingratiating compliments.

The silver light that appeared was actually a rare underground-drilling magical artifact, whereas ordinary magical artifacts are flying artifacts.

A figure slowly emerged from the earth-burrowing artifact, shimmering with silver light.

In an instant, a foul stench wafted over, and the person appeared with disheveled hair, a completely black body, extremely sharp fingertips, and a ferocious expression on their face as they opened their mouth.

A foul-smelling miasma was exhaled from his mouth and nose.

His pair of ferocious, crimson eyes sent chills down one's spine; even his fellow disciples were terrified.

"The prey has come knocking. Heh heh, perfect opportunity to test my skills."

The hoarse voice echoed, revealing that this person was none other than Huang Shaohai from back then. It was unknown what kind of evil cultivation technique he had practiced, which had caused him to end up in such a state.

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Huang, the Earth Dragon Beast has already sensed it."

The two disciples of the Li Huo Palace hurriedly released the Earth Dragon Beast from their spirit beast pouches.

A colossal creature, three zhang long, crashed to the ground. To put it bluntly, this earth dragon beast was just a giant four-legged lizard, only it was good at burrowing underground.

However, at this moment, the Earth Dragon Beast, a spirit pet at the early stage of the second tier, was wailing sadly, and when it looked at its master Huang Shaohai, it actually revealed a trace of fear and murderous aura.

As the owner of this spirit pet, Huang Shaohai could naturally sense it clearly, and couldn't help but sneer:
"You beast are indeed a beast. If I didn't need you, I would have skinned you alive and drained your lifeblood."

At the same time, a spirit bird flashing with fire flew to the earth dragon beast, seemingly sensing its companion's lament, and began to sing to comfort it.

However, upon seeing the phoenix, Huang Shaohai revealed an even more greedy expression, and said ferociously:
"And you beast, once I fatten you up a bit, I'll let you know that you like to eat poison, and poison is also a great tonic for you, you beast."

The two junior brothers standing nearby were terrified and broke out in a cold sweat. Ever since they heard that their senior brother had been practicing the sect's secret techniques, he had become like this.

His temperament changed drastically; he became extremely cruel and took pleasure in killing and sucking blood.

"What are you two standing there for? Take this beast and set up the formation for me. I can't wait to drink the blood of Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"Yes, we'll go right away." The two disciples of Li Huo Palace, as if granted a pardon, hurriedly led their two spirit pets to set up array traps.

Huang Shaohai, who was standing still, saw his own appearance through the silver magic artifact beside him and couldn't help but show a look of anger.

"Damn it, what ancient cultivation technique, what refining one's natal spiritual plant, why have I become like this!"

After the Wang family obtained the ancient cultivation technique in the secret realm, many of them were captured by the Li Huo Palace, and through soul searching, they naturally obtained this cultivation technique.

Huang Shaohai initially practiced this technique with great enthusiasm, using a bloodthirsty poison vine to refine it into his natal spiritual plant.

At first, it was indeed powerful, and its magical power contained a potent poison. But as time went on, things gradually became strange.

His appearance began to change drastically, transforming him into a monster that everyone feared.

This infuriated him, but it was too late to switch to other cultivation methods.

"It's alright. This is an ancient cultivation technique. As long as I keep practicing, I will recover one day. At that time, I might even have a chance to form my core!"

Despite the significant side effects, Huang Shaohai greedily thought that his natal spiritual plant was the Bloodthirsty Poison Ivy.

He could improve his cultivation by consuming the blood of other cultivators, and in less than twenty years, he had already become a mid-Foundation Establishment expert.

"And this Bloodthirsty Poison Vine also needs the essence and blood of a Foundation Establishment cultivator to nourish it. One day I will become a Core Formation cultivator, and so will Huang Tianxiao!"

Upon thinking of the young master of the Huang family, Huang Shaohai couldn't help but reveal a sinister smile.

He might very well become the second young master of the Huang family in the future. The next moment, Huang Shaohai's hoarse and terrifying laughter rang out, and wherever he went, the surrounding plants and insects were poisoned to death.

Meanwhile, the two disciples of Li Huo Palace in the distance felt a chill run down their spines.

If it weren't for the fact that this was a lucrative job, they really wouldn't want to be with this monster.

……

Meanwhile, deep within the Cloud Mist Mountains, the Green Horned Ox was carrying Lin Chang'an outwards.

Suddenly, Lin Chang'an's heart skipped a beat, and he slowly raised his head to look around, frowning slightly.

"Something seems off about this feeling!"

Although he didn't find anything, he still trusted the monk's intuition.

“Ox, let’s take another route.”

Lin Chang'an simply changed his route. He patted the cow beneath him, and the Green Horned Ox let out a low moo. After receiving the response, the ox's hooves immediately changed course.

Lin Chang'an's change of route also angered the two Li Huo Palace disciples who were setting up traps in the distance.

"This rogue cultivator is extremely cautious; he changed his route three times in a row."

"Alright, junior brother, these rogue cultivators are the most timid. We've encountered them before."

The senior brother from Li Huo Palace sneered, and the enormous earth dragon behind him let out mournful cries—the aura of its child.

One day later.

The green-horned ox stared at its surroundings with a puzzled look in its eyes, warily observing its surroundings.

After changing the route several times, Lin Chang'an secretly breathed a sigh of relief.

Whether it's just his imagination or not doesn't matter. What matters is that he changed his route several times; surely he couldn't have been targeted?

Just as Lin Chang'an was walking forward with a relaxed smile, his pupils suddenly contracted, and a layer of cold sweat broke out on his back.

"This is... a formation plate!"

At this moment, Lin Chang'an's smile froze, and his pupils reflected the array plates and array flags quietly hidden three feet below the soil in the distance.

【Spiritual Eye (Grandmaster 4685/5000)】

If he hadn't been cultivating his spiritual eye over the years, he might not have been able to discover the hidden array plates and array flags.

"The second-tier array plate and array flag already have the effect of shielding divine sense detection, and ordinary cultivators' divine sense cannot detect them."

Lin Chang'an, with his late-stage Foundation Establishment spiritual sense, probed the area but received no response.

However, his eyes saw clearly.

"We've been targeted! When did this start!?"

He changed his route several times, but the other side had already laid an ambush.

At this moment, Lin Chang'an frowned, but the array's range was not far away, and he didn't have time to think about it.

The two cultivators from the Li Huo Palace, who were hiding in the distance, now revealed smiles as if they were looking at their prey.

“When the Foundation Establishment stage cultivator arrives, Senior Brother Huang will absorb the cultivator's flesh and blood, and we'll split the good stuff equally.”

"Get ready, Senior Brother Huang is watching this time, so don't mess things up."

Just as the two were secretly exchanging messages, Lin Chang'an, who was in the distance, also sensed a familiar presence.

These two hidden magical auras belonged to the cultivators who attacked Lao Hu last time.

"We've really been targeted!"

Thinking of this, Lin Chang'an cursed under his breath, and then the next moment, the two people from the Li Huo Palace in the distance were suddenly shocked and angry.

It turned out that when Lin Chang'an approached the formation, he suddenly put the array plate and array flag buried underground into his storage bag, and then patted the spirit pet under his body.

The Green Horned Ox let out a furious roar that echoed throughout the mountains and forests, and the next moment it ran madly into the depths of the Cloud Mist Mountains without looking back.

"No, I was discovered!"

"Don't let this person escape!"

"Damn it, they actually dared to take our array plate."

The thunderous, lightning-fast speed of the train filled Lin Chang'an with awe.

This was his first time trying to run at full speed like a green horn bull.

It was incredibly fast, and more importantly, the sense of security it provided filled him with.

“Ox, don’t look back, go deeper into the miasma.”

Lin Chang'an coldly shouted at the pursuers behind him, holding the Xuan Tie Flying Shield behind him, and at the same time raised his hand to summon several firebird talismans.

In an instant, the firebird cried out, radiating a terrifying heat, and frantically attacked the two cultivators chasing from behind.

The bombardment of spells left the two cultivators behind them in a sorry state.

"Brother!"

"Don't worry, Senior Brother Huang will show this rogue cultivator what it means to wish you were dead!"

However, as he was speeding through the miasma zone, Lin Chang'an's pupils reflected a distant object rapidly approaching from the soil.

"Oh no, there are still Tribulation Cultivators in the soil."

However, the next moment, Lin Chang'an posted five second-grade mid-level Vajra Talismans to the Green Horned Ox, which transformed into layers of golden shield light.

With four more second-tier mid-grade speed talismans, the speed of the Green Horned Ox instantly increased to another level.

"Knock me over!"

Lin Chang'an's face was grim. Although he didn't want to cause trouble, he was absolutely not afraid of it. He wanted to see just how capable these ambushing cultivators were.

It can withstand the full-force attack of a second-tier demon beast, the Azure Horned Bull, running at full speed.

At least in the Cloud Mist Mountains, even the tough-skinned, mid-stage second-tier demonic beasts have never encountered a worthy opponent.

"Moo!"

Driven by its owner, the Green Horned Ox had bloodshot eyes and emitted white mist from its mouth and nose, accompanied by a terrifying moo.

It charged straight ahead with an indomitable and terrifying momentum.

Wherever it passed, towering ancient trees and boulders were smashed to pieces as if they were scraps of paper.

"court death!"

Suddenly, a silver land vessel emerged from the ground, and Huang Shaohai, sitting inside, revealed a ferocious and bloodthirsty smile.

However, the smile on his face froze the next moment.

"Shameless!"

Nine mid-grade second-tier ice talismans came crashing down with a series of thunderous booms.

Although it could not destroy his magical artifact, the power of the ice talisman's restriction neutralized his momentum.

Under Huang Shaohai's furious gaze, a second-tier demon beast, the Azure Horned Bull, with bloodshot eyes and white steam billowing from its nostrils, charged forward with unstoppable momentum.

Especially those two sharp bull horns!

At this moment, their eyes met!

Lin Chang'an, riding the Green Horned Ox, forging ahead fearlessly, and Huang Shaohai, sitting on the Earth-Drilling Boat.

"It's you!"

When they met again, seeing Lin Chang'an's unchanged appearance filled Huang Shaohai with jealousy and anger.

(End of this chapter)