Chapter 30: Yun Yao Establishes Foundation
The next day.
“Brother Lin, the bird last night was terrifying.”
Li Erniu looked up at the azure sky, still in shock, and Lin Chang’an also nodded, saying in a low voice:
“Erniu, don’t leave the marketplace lightly during this time. That Gale Eagle is not only powerful, but also holds grudges.”
It was clear that this expedition had stirred up the Yunwu Mountain Range, causing chaos among the demon beasts, which wasn’t unheard of in the past.
But this was the first time that a pack of second-rank beasts had attacked.
The entire marketplace was a bit panicked; even magical artifacts, talismans, and pills had started to rise in price.
“Brother Lin, I’m not stupid.”
Even Li Erniu knew one thing: flying demon beasts couldn’t hit targets on the ground. This Qingzhu Mountain Marketplace was like a stationary turtle shell.
More importantly, this turtle shell might not be able to endure for long.
“If the marketplace’s formation is activated, it will consume a large number of mid-grade spirit stones. If that second-rank Gale Eagle can’t be dealt with, the formation will definitely collapse first.”
Lin Chang’an shook his head. It was precisely because of this that prices within the marketplace had begun to rise.
But it wasn’t small cultivators like them who had to worry—it was Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion.
Sure enough, on the third night, over thirty second-rank Gale Eagles arrived as expected and launched another night attack.
However, this time, Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion joined forces with the other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the marketplace. When the beasts attacked, they opened a gap and quickly closed it again.
Three second-rank Gale Eagles were directly slain by the Foundation Establishment cultivators inside the marketplace.
After this incident, for several days in a row, cultivators in the marketplace finally breathed a sigh of relief.
...
Five days later, under howling cold winds, large snowflakes drifted down.
【Name: Lin Chang’an】
【Lifespan: 45/106】
【Stage: Qi Refining Stage Fifth Level (99/100)】
【Cultivation Method: Evergreen Art (Grandmaster: 1899/5000)】
【Skills: Golden Light Talisman (Grandmaster 158/5000), Swift Talisman (Proficient 993/1000), Flying Sword Talisman (Grandmaster 879/5000)】
【Spells: Wood Spirit Thorn [Perfect 195/10000], Fireball (Proficiency 921/1000), Breath Concealment (Proficient 365/5000), Invisibility (Proficient 102/5000), Object Manipulation (Proficiency 986/1000)……】
Inside the secluded chamber, as the spirit stone in his palm dimmed, Lin Chang’an slowly opened his eyes.
“At most another half month, and I’ll break through to the sixth level of Qi Refining.”
Casually crushing the depleted spirit stone into powder in his palm, Lin Chang’an sighed.
Who would have thought that five years ago, he was still a discouraged small-time cultivator at the third level of Qi Refining, ready to return to the mortal realm.
But in five years, he had become a mid-grade first-rank Talisman Master, and his cultivation was about to reach the sixth level of Qi Refining.
“Though I can’t compare to a genius like Yun Yao, at this pace, I might still be able to prepare for Foundation Establishment before I turn sixty.”
Lin Chang’an’s face was filled with joy. As the saying went, skilled craftsmen don’t starve even in famine years—this applied to the cultivation world as well.
Among the many cultivation arts, anyone who attained some achievement could earn spirit stones far beyond what others at the same stage could—and more stably too.
Just as Lin Chang’an blew out the candle, ready to rest, a piercing scream suddenly echoed from the snowy night outside.
Countless cultivators were instantly startled awake.
“Something’s happened!”
Lin Chang’an instinctively gripped his magical artifact, cautiously opened the door, and climbed up the wall.
But just as he reached the walltop, he heard a heavy crash in the distance, followed by a tiger’s roar.
“Demon beasts are falling from the sky!”
Lin Chang’an’s eyes widened. He saw with his own eyes a demon beast plummet from the sky, smashing directly into a cultivator’s home.
Screams of terror and the roar of spell explosions followed immediately after.
“What’s going on!?”
Even though Lin Chang’an had lived in the cultivation world for over twenty years, he was stunned at this moment.
This was completely beyond his knowledge.
Since when could demon beasts fall from the sky?
However, it wasn’t over yet.
On that snowy night, in the marketplace, muffled thuds of heavy objects falling echoed continuously, and the entire marketplace lit up.
Especially in the shantytown area where the drifting cultivators lived—because of their low cultivation—most of the falling demon beasts were at the late stage of first-rank.
It was like tigers falling into a sheepfold, beginning a direct slaughter.
“Beasts!”
At that moment, a furious roar rang out within the marketplace, and instantly, the night sky’s defensive barrier activated, and spells from Foundation Establishment cultivators lit up the sky.
At that moment, countless cultivators saw clearly what was happening in the sky.
Lin Chang’an widened his eyes. “It’s those Gale Eagles again!”
Damn, this was truly eye-opening.
In the snowy night sky, over thirty Gale Eagles were circling, and a few of them were carrying live demon beasts.
The falling demon beasts were clearly the handiwork of these second-rank Gale Eagles.
This alone revealed the intelligence of the demon beasts.
“I heard that the leader of this group of Gale Eagles is already a late-stage second-rank beast. Better hide for now.”
Lin Chang’an shrank his neck, looking at the chaos in the marketplace and the cultivators hunting beasts.
He was a noble Talisman Master.
How many spirit stones was one beast even worth? No way he’d risk his life for that.
...
The next day, the whole marketplace bustled with activity.
“Last night was terrifying. I heard that in the east district, a second-rank Foundation Establishment beast fell. If not for a Foundation Establishment cultivator from Xuanyin Pavilion stepping in, who knows how many people would’ve died.”
“This is way too chaotic.”
“You don’t get it. Right now, low-level cultivators in the marketplace are naturally on edge, but late-stage Qi Refining cultivators all have red eyes. There’s no need to take risks looking for beasts—if lucky and teamed up, they can kill one and get a demon core…”
“Damn it, which family’s cultivator provoked these beasts again, to make them so vengeful and crazy?”
In the distance, Lin Chang’an and Li Erniu were hurrying toward Juxian Tower, with a worried look all over Erniu’s face.
“Brother Lin, things are getting too dangerous lately. When will this all end?”
Lin Chang’an sighed helplessly upon hearing that.
“Erniu, let’s both be careful these days. Don’t leave the marketplace unless necessary. Lately, there’ve been many cases of cultivator robbers outside.”
Cultivator robbers killed to steal treasures. Some were professionals, and others just acted on sudden greed.
With just a little unrest, even the neighbor next door might eye your spirit stones with desire.
These past few disturbances were only suppressed because of cultivators from the two major sects, Lihuo Palace and Xuanyin Pavilion, stationed in the marketplace.
Otherwise, it would’ve been chaos already.
This time, the two of them came to Juxian Tower because their junior sister, Lu Qingqing, had sent word through someone—there was news about the Little County Princess Yun Yao.
So the two of them had come together toward Juxian Tower.
“What! The Little County… Senior Yun has already established Foundation!?”
As soon as they entered the private room in Juxian Tower and sat down, they heard this news, and Li Erniu blurted out in shock.
“Brother Li, I only found out last night too.”
Lu Qingqing had an innocent expression as she explained:
“We don’t even know when Sister Yun came back. Last night, a letter came from the disciples of Lihuo Palace saying that Sister Yun had already successfully established Foundation within the sect two days ago, and would return to the marketplace soon.”
Not only Erniu—even the Minor Marquis Shen Lie looked utterly shocked when he heard the news.
And Lin Chang’an, though surprised, also understood why the Little County Princess Yun Yao had acted so cautiously.
Foundation Establishment was such a huge event—if even the slightest news leaked, who knew what complications might arise.
Forget outsiders—there were probably people within the sect watching closely as well.
Who would have thought that the Little County Princess would suddenly return to her sect and go into seclusion for a breakthrough?
She acted decisively, clean and efficient.