Second day.
"Brother Lin, the bird last night was terrifying."
Li Erniu looked at the azure sky, speaking with lingering fear, and Lin Chang'an also nodded, saying solemnly:
"Erniu, don't leave the market easily these days. The Wind-split Eagle is not only powerful but also very vengeful."
It's quite evident; the intense exploration efforts have caused disturbances among the demon beasts of the Cloud Mist Mountain Range. Although this isn't the first time it happened.
Yet, it was the first time that a group of Tier Two demon beasts attacked.
The entire market was somewhat panicked, with magical artifacts, talismans, and elixirs all starting to rise in price.
"Brother Lin, I'm not stupid."
Even Li Erniu understood one point, that is, the flying demon beasts couldn't hit those below, and this Cyan Bamboo Mountain Market was just an immovable turtle shell.
More importantly, this turtle shell might not withstand the consumption.
"Once the array sustaining the market is activated, it will consume a large amount of middle-grade spirit stones. If this Tier Two demon beast, the Wind-split Eagle, cannot be dealt with, the market's array will definitely be the first to be unsustainable."
Lin Chang'an shook his head; it was precisely because of this that the prices in the market had risen.
But those who should be worried were not these low-tier cultivators, but Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion.
As expected, on the night of the third day, more than thirty Tier Two demon Wind-split Eagles arrived as scheduled and launched an attack throughout the night.
This time, however, Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion allied with the other Foundation Establishment cultivators in the market, created a breach during the demon beasts' attack, and quickly closed it.
Three Tier Two demon Wind-split Eagles were directly killed by the Foundation Establishment cultivators in the market.
After this, for several consecutive days, the cultivators in the market could finally breathe a sigh of relief.
...
Five days later, amidst the howling cold wind, large snowflakes fell.
[Name: Lin Chang'an]
[Life Span: 45/106]
[Realm: Qi Refining Fifth Layer (99/100)]
[Cultivation Technique: Chang Chun Skill (Grandmaster: 1899/5000)]
[Skills: Golden Light Talisman (Grandmaster 158/5000), Divine Movement Talisman (Mastery 993/1000), Flying Sword Talisman (Grandmaster 879/5000)]
[Spells: Wood Spirit Spike [Perfect 195/10000], Fire Bomb Technique (Mastery 921/1000), Breath Concealment Technique (Grandmaster 365/5000), Invisibility Technique (Grandmaster 102/5000), Exorcism Technique (Mastery 986/1000)...]
In the secret chamber, after the spirit stone in his palm dimmed, Lin Chang'an slowly opened his eyes.
"At most another half a month, and I can break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer."
He casually crushed the waste spirit stone in his hand into powder and sighed with emotion.
Who would have thought that five years ago, he was still a dejected tiny cultivator at the Qi Refining Third Layer, ready to return to the Mortal Realm in despair.
In five years, not only did he become a Tier One middle-grade Talisman Master, but even his cultivation was about to break through to the Qi Refining Sixth Layer.
"Although I can't compare to a genius like Yun Yao, at my current speed, I still have hope of planning for Foundation Establishment before sixty."
Lin Chang'an's face was full of joy; they say a craftsman will never starve in a famine year, and this saying fits the Immortal Cultivation Realm as well.
For any of the Hundred Skills of Cultivation, anyone who achieves some level of accomplishment earns spirit stones far beyond cultivators of the same stage, and it's more stable.
Just as Lin Chang'an blew out the candle and was about to rest, suddenly outside in the snowy night, there was a piercing scream.
Countless cultivators were awakened at once.
"Something happened!"
Out of instinct, Lin Chang'an took a magical artifact in his hand, cautiously opened the door, and climbed onto the wall.
However, as soon as he climbed onto the wall, there was a heavy crash in the distance, followed by the roar of a tiger.
"A demon beast fell from the sky!"
Lin Chang'an's eyes widened as he witnessed a demon beast falling from the sky, crashing directly into a cultivator's home.
What followed were screams of horror and the booming sound of spells.
"What's going on!?"
Even Lin Chang'an, who had fended for himself in the Immortal Cultivation Realm for more than twenty years, was at a loss.
This was completely beyond his knowledge.
When did demon beasts start falling from the sky?
Yet it wasn't over; throughout the snowy night, heavy thuds kept falling in the market, and the whole city was lit up.
Especially in the slum areas where loose cultivators, due to their relatively low cultivation, were mainly targeted by these demon beasts, which were all late-stage Tier One demon beasts.
This was like a tiger falling into a sheep pen, starting a direct slaughter.
"Beasts!"
Just then, with an enraged shout from within the market, the defense barrier in the night sky suddenly opened, and spells from the Foundation Establishment cultivators lit up the night sky.
At this moment, countless cultivators saw the scene in the sky.
Lin Chang'an's eyes widened even more, "It's those Wind-split Eagles again!"
Damn, this was truly eye-opening.
In the snowy sky, over thirty Wind-split Eagles were circling down, with a few carrying live demon beasts.
The demon beasts falling from the sky were clearly the mischief of these Tier Two demon beast Wind-split Eagles.
This showed the intelligence of the demon beasts.
"I heard the leader of these Wind-split Eagles has already become a Tier Two late-stage demon beast; better hide for now."
Lin Chang'an shrank his neck, looking at the chaos in the market and the cultivators hunting demon beasts.
He was a noble Talisman Master.
How many spirit stones are one demon beast worth, really not worth risking one's life for.
...
On the second day, the entire market became lively.
"Last night was terrifying; I heard a Foundation Establishment demon beast also fell in the East District which, if not for the Foundation Establishment cultivators from Profound Sound Pavilion stepping in, who knows how many people it would have killed."
"It's so chaotic right now."
"What do you know? Of course, the low-tier cultivators in the market are panicked, but late-stage Qi Refining cultivators are all eager; you don't even need to venture out to find them. Just with good luck and team effort, you can get a demon core..."
"Damn, which cultivator offended these beasts to provoke such mad vengeance."
In the distance, Lin Chang'an and Li Erniu were heading to Gathering Immortals Tower, with worry written all over Erniu's face.
"Brother Lin, it's so dangerous lately, when will this end."
Lin Chang'an sighed helplessly at these words.
"Erniu, let's both be cautious these days. Unless necessary, don't leave the market. There are frequent tribulation cultivator incidents outside lately."
Tribulation cultivators, killing and snatching treasures. There are specialized tribulation cultivators as well as those who temporarily act due to greed when the opportunity arises.
As soon as there's a disturbance, even your neighbor could look at your spirit stones with greed.
Recent minor commotions were all suppressed by the disciples from Li Huo Palace and Profound Sound Pavilion in the market.
If not, it would have been chaos.
The two had come to Gathering Immortals Tower because little junior sister Lu Qingqing had informed them through someone that the little commandery princess Yun Yao had news.
That's why they were heading to Gathering Immortals Tower together.
"What! Little Commandery... Elder Yun, has reached Foundation Establishment!?"
Upon entering the private room at Gathering Immortals Tower and sitting down, they immediately heard this news, shocking Li Erniu into an exclamation.
"Brother Li, I only found out last night too."
Lu Qingqing, looking innocent, explained:
"We didn't know exactly when Sister Yun returned either. Last night, a letter came from Li Huo Palace disciples, saying Sister Yun had successfully reached Foundation Establishment within the sect a couple of days ago, and she'll return to the market after some time."
It wasn't just Erniu, even young lord Shen Lie was shocked upon hearing the news.
Lin Chang'an, in his shock, also started to understand why the little commandery princess Yun Yao was so cautious.
Foundation Establishment is such a grand achievement, and any leak of information could lead to unforeseen mishaps.
Not to mention the outside cultivators, even someone within the sect might have eyes on her.
Who could have thought this little commandery princess would suddenly return to her sect to break through in seclusion?
Her actions were decisive, leaving no room for procrastination.