Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

In the blink of an eye, Zhang Xiucai disappeared without a trace.

The two people in the pavilion remained silent.

“I received the letter back then. At that time, I was at a critical moment in my cultivation and was in seclusion in a secret place of my sect, unable to go out.”

"The purpose of this small gathering, besides making talismans, is to make up for the promise we made back then."

"However, if Master Lin is concerned about the Li siblings, then please refrain from speaking."

Lin Xiurong's tone was cold and her manner stiff, leaving no room for argument.

Judging from the woman's tone, Lin Changsheng knew that there was probably no way to undo what happened back then.

Given this, he would certainly not interfere any further.

"Fellow Daoist Lin is busy with cultivation, and I am honored that you could take time out of your busy schedule to keep this appointment. This is the identity contract that the Li family in the secular world prepared for the two of us, and I have already retrieved it on your behalf."

Lin Changsheng kept silent about the matter Li Manting had entrusted to him, and instead took out the contract that Xiao'e had signed years ago to free her from slavery.

However, the moment Lin Xiurong saw the contract, her charming face turned cold.

With a light wave of her hand, she unleashed an incredibly solid magical force, snatching the contract from Lin Changsheng's hand.

Her slender, delicate body instantly unleashed a powerful aura, shattering the contract into fragments.

(The contract was proof that Xiao'e had been sold into servitude by her family, becoming the private property of the Li family, who held the power of life and death over her. Before she was returned, all the master's actions towards the maid were justified.)

Lin Changsheng remained calm upon seeing this and did not say anything further.

"Could it be that Master Lin also thinks I am petty and shouldn't have targeted the Li siblings like this?"

Lin Xiurong's face was tense, her alluring eyes filled with a hint of coldness as she stared directly at Lin Changsheng.

"Fellow Daoist Lin misunderstands. Everyone has different experiences and different perspectives, so naturally they cannot understand the pain of others. As for the matter between you and the Lin siblings, I have no right to say anything more."

After thinking for a moment, Lin Changsheng spoke calmly.

Seeing Lin Changsheng's calm demeanor, Lin Xiurong suddenly became agitated.

"Lin San Gou! What makes you think you can be so calm and collected in front of me? Don't think I don't know that you looked down on me back then because of this! As long as I'm still in the Qinglan Sect, I won't let the Li siblings have an easy time!"

Lin Xiurong was somewhat exasperated, and anger rose in her beautiful eyes.

The sudden outburst of emotion caught Lin Changsheng somewhat off guard.

"Lin... Xiao'e, you misunderstand. I am single-mindedly pursuing the path to immortality and do not wish to be distracted by matters of love and sex. I am the same today as I was back then."

Lin Changsheng knew that this woman was stuck in a rut, so he had no choice but to explain.

"Hmph, the path to immortality? Even I, as a direct disciple of the Qinglan Sect, wouldn't dare to speak so presumptuously. You're just a mere first-tier talisman master, a rogue cultivator at the sixth level of Qi Condensation. What makes you think you can do that!"

Lin Xiurong's expression turned slightly cold, and she let out a sneer, her pretty eyes carrying a hint of resentment.

"I believe that anything is possible with human effort. Fellow Daoist Lin is exceptionally talented and a disciple of the Qinglan Sect, with a bright future ahead. In comparison, we rogue cultivators can only be diligent at all times, walking on thin ice, and putting in more effort than ordinary people."

Lin Changsheng did not offer any explanation, but simply stated his position calmly.

Lin Changsheng knew perfectly well what Xiao'e was thinking back then.

A helpless woman, with no one to rely on, regarded herself as her last hope and support.

Having finally learned that there are immortal cultivators in this world who transcend life and death, how could Lin Changsheng possibly give up such an opportunity and waste his life?

Xiao'e felt inferior because she got wet while sleeping with the young master Li Xuewu.

Because of Lin Changsheng's rejection, he lost his support and had no choice but to start cultivating and becoming independent.

She harbored resentment towards Li Xuewu and attributed most of the reasons for Lin Changsheng's rejection to Li Xuewu.

She resented Li Manting because when Li Xuewu slept with her, this young lady never tried to stop him.

She harbored resentment towards Lin Changsheng because this gentle and kind-hearted boy, her childhood sweetheart, had rejected her back then.

She also harbored resentment towards her former maid, Xiao'e, who was submissive and always thought of relying on others; it was a painful memory for her.

"Lin Changsheng, I, Lin Xiurong, will cultivate to a level that you can only look up to, so that you will never be able to keep up with my pace, and you will regret your choice back then!"

Lin Xiurong's complexion returned to normal, her expression was indifferent, and her beautiful eyes were fixed on Lin Changsheng as she calmly spoke.

……

In the pavilion.

Lin Xiurong fled far away.

Lin Changsheng wore a bitter smile, sighing inwardly.

After a while, Zhang Xiucai's furtive figure reappeared.

"Brother Lin, Senior Sister Lin Xiurong... has left first?"

Zhang Xiucai stared in the direction Lin Xiurong had left, his expression strange.

"There is another matter that I'm afraid I'll have to trouble you with, Brother Shangwen."

Lin Changsheng did not continue the topic of Lin Xiurong, but instead had another request.

Since the promise made to Li Manting back then was not fulfilled, and she received a piece of second-tier spirit bamboo for nothing, she naturally needs to pay the corresponding price.

Considering that Li Manting might not accept her gifts.

After a moment's thought, Lin Changsheng asked Zhang Xiucai to stop by the immortal city where Li Xuewu was on his way back to the sect.

It is said that Li Xuewu has been doing very poorly these past two years. Not only has he not been able to enjoy the third-tier spiritual veins of the Qinglan Sect, but he is also facing a severe shortage of various cultivation resources.

So he gave Zhang Xiucai some spirit stones, ten mid-grade spell talismans, and three high-grade spell talismans, asking him to help deliver them to his fellow disciple Li Xuewu.

The combined value of these items is enough to offset the loss of that piece of 'Emerald Bamboo' from back then.

In any case, without Li Manting's cultivation incantation and activation spirit stone, Lin Changsheng's path to immortality would have been even more difficult.

Lin Changsheng will never forget this kindness.

At the same time, Lin Changsheng also received the breakthrough pill that Zhang Xiucai had promised back then.

With this elixir, the chances of breaking through to the seventh level of Qi Condensation have increased considerably.

Unlike Lin Xiurong, Zhang Xiucai hoped that Lin Changsheng would try his best to draw more high-quality attack and defense talismans, and it would be best if they could reach the level of finest.

A first-tier high-quality talisman has a power roughly equivalent to that of a Qi Condensation level 10 cultivator.

Having a few high-quality talismans would not only greatly ensure one's safety, but also significantly increase the probability of plundering valuable items from the forbidden area.

……

Half a day later, Lin Changsheng and Zhang Xiucai flew together, piloting their magical artifacts.

We stopped in a small, ordinary town nearby.

"I never expected Brother Lin to be so skilled in medicine."

"But brother, I would like to advise Brother Lin that it is enough to master one of these skills. For us cultivators, our own cultivation level is the foundation for our livelihood."

Upon learning that Lin Changsheng was also a physician and would be treating others on this trip, Zhang Xiucai was quite surprised. However, he worried that his old friend's pursuit of too many skills might interfere with his own cultivation, so after a moment's hesitation, he voiced his concerns.

"Thank you for the reminder, Brother Shangwen. I naturally understand the principle of not trying to do too much at once."

Lin Changsheng, knowing Zhang Xiucai's concerns, thanked him.

The latter nodded upon seeing this and said nothing more.

Lin Changsheng's talisman-making skills were of great help to me; it could even be said that my ability to become an inner disciple was thanks to him.

Zhang Xiucai worried that Lin Changsheng, lacking a master to guide him, would waste time learning too many different things, thus hindering his progress in studying the art of talismans.

Zhang Xiucai understood that their close relationship was based on mutual assistance.

What if one day this old friend can't keep up?

Those two are destined to drift apart.

Before long, the two found a quiet courtyard in the town.

"Master Lin didn't say he would bring anyone with him. May I ask how this fellow Daoist is addressed?"

In the courtyard, He Wanying, dressed in a deep blue dress, looked at the two of them with a hint of wariness in her beautiful eyes.

“Miss Wanying, there’s no need to worry. This fellow Daoist Zhang Shangwen is a cultivator from the Qinglan Sect and also a long-time friend of mine. We just happened to be having a small gathering nearby, so we came together.”

Lin Changsheng smiled and explained to the two of them.

"A disciple of the Qinglan Sect?" Upon learning Zhang Shangwen's identity, He Wanying was slightly taken aback, but quickly recovered and said, "I didn't expect Master Lin to have such extensive connections that he even knows a cultivator from a major sect like the Qinglan Sect."

"Fellow Daoist He, you flatter me. I have known Brother Lin for many years, and it has nothing to do with our respective identities or backgrounds."

Scholar Zhang clasped his hands in greeting and addressed He Wanying.

On the way here, Lin Changsheng had revealed part of the story to Zhang Xiucai.

Miss He invited him to go out and treat someone's injuries, but because the area around the He family had been unstable in recent years, Lin Changsheng originally planned to refuse to go out.

Just then, he received an invitation from Lin Xiurong and Zhang Xiucai.

So they simply chose Qinghe County, which was not far from here, as the meeting place.

This can also be seen as using Zhang Xiucai's identity as a disciple of the Qinglan Sect to deter those with ulterior motives.

Zhang Xiucai readily agreed to this favor.

Within the cultivation world of Yue Kingdom, the status of a disciple of the Qinglan Sect is quite prestigious.

Even if someone really wanted to harm Lin Changsheng, they should at least consider that he was a cultivator from the Qinglan Sect.

“Master Lin, my friend is seriously injured and it is not convenient for outsiders to be present during the treatment. I can only ask Fellow Daoist Zhang to rest in the courtyard for a while.”

He Wanying, with her elegant posture, gave a slight bow, her expression slightly apologetic.

"It's alright, you have important business to attend to. I'll wait outside and won't disturb you."

Scholar Zhang waved his hand dismissively and said.

He Wanying breathed a slight sigh of relief upon seeing this.

He instructed the maids in the courtyard to serve Zhang Xiucai well, and then led Lin Changsheng into the courtyard.

After passing through two courtyards and a long corridor, the two arrived at a gatehouse in the backyard, which was tightly closed.

After pausing briefly, He Wanying took out a small token from her waist and activated it with a little magic power.

Then, with a gentle flick of her slender, jade-like fingers, a layer of earth-yellow restriction appeared in front of the two of them.

To Lin Changsheng's astonishment, the barrier quickly dissipated, opening a passage for the two of them to pass through.

Surprisingly, there were three layers of similar restrictions outside this single room!

This is a secular town, without any spiritual veins. The daily operation of the array and restrictions can only be maintained by spirit stones.

Over time, this will definitely become a considerable expense.

Inside the house, the sound of a man coughing could be heard.

Upon entering the room, Lin Changsheng saw a gaunt man with a sallow complexion lying on the bed, his face pale and bloodless.

Within him, a violent aura surged continuously, seemingly ready to erupt from his gaunt body at any moment.

But the moment Lin Changsheng saw this person, his expression changed slightly, and his mind went blank for a second…

"This person is actually a Foundation Establishment cultivator who has been hiding his true cultivation level!"