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One year later, on Little Turtle Peak.
In the medicine room, a slender woman in a green dress, with skin as cold and white as jade, lay on the bed.
Lan Chang'an withdrew his hand from Mu Bingyun’s dantian, the green light on his palm fading away through her clothes.
“Bingyun, you’ve now reached the ninth layer of Qi-Refining and have been nurturing and conditioning your body for twelve years. What are your plans going forward?”
Lan Chang'an stood up, withdrawing his hand, and asked casually.
“Uncle Lan, has the nurturing period ended?” Mu Bingyun sat up, asking absentmindedly, feeling somewhat disappointed.
Over the years, Uncle Lan personally treated her every two months. Initially, Mu Bingyun felt somewhat uncomfortable. But gradually, she grew accustomed to it; that sense of warmth akin to being carried within one's mother's womb allowed her body and mind to relax, bringing her immense comfort.
It wasn’t just physical and she felt her cultivation progress seemed a bit smoother.
Uncle Lan’s serene and gentle demeanor was also pleasing to behold. Each nurturing session dispelled the usual tedium and boredom and unknowingly, the bi-monthly nurturing sessions became something she quietly looked forward to.
“Yes, the nurturing period is almost over.” Lan Chang'an nodded.
Years ago, Mu Bingyun had completely regained her cultivation speed. Now that her dantian had been repaired, Mu Bingyun's foundation was stronger than ever, thanks to the periodic nourishment of Evergreen mana.
As a result, her cultivation progress was slightly faster than expected, reaching the ninth layer of Qi-Refining at forty.
“Uncle Lan asked me about my plans. Is he preparing to send Bingyun away?” Mu Bingyun’s eyes reddened, her snow-like face showing a pitiful expression.
Lan Chang'an looked at her: When Mu Bingyun first arrived at Little Turtle Peak, she was solitary and aloof, not knowing how to express grievance or feminine weakness. This was a skill Guan Qiaozhi excelled at.
“This is not your home; the Mu Family is.” Lan Chang'an stated plainly. Taking in this female cultivator, nurturing her for twelve years, and occasionally giving guidance was only a way to make up for a past regret.
Of course, Mu Bingyun’s presence on Little Turtle Peak wasn’t an inconvenience. She acted as a maid, assisting with talisman drawing tasks and managing the affairs of the mountain.
“I don’t want to go back to the Mu Family; it’s the Li Family’s Feiyue Lake now!” Mu Bingyun bit her pink lips, her gaze icy, filled with a faint mist.
“If I don’t become a second-rank talisman master or reach the Foundation Establishment Realm, I have no face to see my master.”
Lan Chang'an pondered. It seemed that Mu Xiuyun had high hopes for this female disciple.
Back then, Mu Xiuyun was confined to the family and could only buy a Meridian Protecting Pill, failing to reach the Foundation Establishment stage. Meanwhile, Lan Chang'an sought opportunities outside and successfully achieved Foundation Establishment. Perhaps, she wanted her disciple to walk a different path from her own.
Mu Bingyun’s mention of the “Li Family’s Feiyue Lake” made it clear that the conflict between the two branches of the Mu Family was difficult to reconcile.
“What are your plans if you don’t return to the Mu Family?”
Lan Chang'an understood that even if Mu Bingyun returned, it would be hard for her to gain the greatest support to reach the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Li Erqing’s grandson, Mu Congren, also had a middle-grade spiritual root, was nearly ten years younger than Mu Bingyun, and his cultivation progress was faster than the latter's at the same age.
“Bingyun wants to be an ordinary maid on Little Turtle Peak, and assist Uncle Lan in drawing talismans and taking care of the affairs on the mountain…” Mu Bingyun lowered her head as she spoke out her thoughts.
“In addition, I’d like to make some first-rank talismans to sell to the wandering cultivators around Wuqi Mountain. Part of the proceeds will go to Little Turtle Peak as compensation for allowing me to cultivate here.”
Mu Bingyun’s talisman-drawing skills had reached the first-rank top superior-grade level. Over the years, she had sold some first-rank talismans at Wuqi Mountain. Because Lan Chang'an only sold second-rank talismans, the supply could not significantly exceed the demand.
“No need. Little Turtle Peak has few people. Working as a maid, including all other duties, is sufficient compensation for cultivating here. The profit from drawing talismans can be kept for yourself for your Foundation Establishment plans.”
Lan Chang'an did not provide special treatment, only offering a fair employment arrangement.
“Thank you, Uncle Lan.” Mu Bingyun’s eyes brightened as she bowed slightly.
Little Turtle Peak had a good spiritual environment. Cultivating and drawing talismans here occasionally garnered guidance from Lan Chang'an as well.
Nearby Little Pill Peak made it easy to buy various cultivation pills, including beauty pills, at prices more favorable than those found in outside shops.
In contrast, competition over resources within the Mu Family back home was fierce, and conditions were far less favorable.
Mu Xiuyun’s refusal to let her return was obviously carefully considered.
...
Half a year later.
Little Turtle Peak, inside a secret room.
A humanoid puppet with a wolf head, clad in scales and carrying five silver-black spears on its back, stood before Lan Chang'an.
Zizz! Pop!
The wolf-headed puppet grabbed a spear, dragging an arc of electricity, easily piercing the secret room’s barrier, leaving holes several-inch-deep in the floor.
“Finally, it’s a success.”
Lan Chang'an looked slightly fatigued, exhaling deeply.
After several failures, he successfully crafted a second-rank mid-grade puppet.
This puppet was not limited to close combat; its spears could be thrown at mid to long distances, posing a threat to mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.
Nearly ten years after becoming a second-order puppet master, he had now taken the first step into the second-rank mid-grade level.
The cost of crafting this puppet, based on market prices, meant that he'd incurred a small loss. Nonetheless, this development exceeded his expectations.
In addition to this second-rank mid-grade puppet. Lan Chang'an also crafted three second-rank low-grade puppets, all of premium quality. They were the turtle puppet, the archer puppet, and the flying bird puppet.
Relying on puppets alone, Lan Chang'an could suppress mid-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators. Of course, puppet techniques had their limitations. To utilize its true strength, it had to be combined with the puppet control technique, which required a high level of spiritual sense. This involved sharing a portion of one's spiritual sense with the puppets.
Using magic weapons or magic treasures also required spiritual sense, limiting the number of puppets one could control and their overall power.
Ordinary first and second-rank puppets lacked independent intelligence and could only follow simple commands. Even high-level intelligent puppets needed the support of puppet control technique to fully exert their power.
Lan Chang'an had a strong spiritual sense and deep puppet control technique skills, allowing him to effectively control several second-rank mid and low-grade puppets.
...
“There's still a few months to go before the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm will open.” Lan Chang'an put away the puppets and left the secret room. In his cave mansion, he organized some supplies.
A few days later, he instructed Guan Qiaozhi and Mu Bingyun, then boarded a flying boat, heading north to the border of Liang Kingdom.
The northern border of the Liang Kingdom was technically north of the Black Fog Mountain Range’s branch.
The branch of the Black Fog Mountain Range passed through the northern part of the Liang Kingdom, with small gaps forming valleys that cultivators could pass through.
These passageways occasionally housed scattered demonic beasts, posing a threat to low-level Qi-Refining cultivators or mortals.
Foundation Establishment cultivators could pass safely unless they were extremely unlucky and encountered second-rank or higher demonic beasts.
Additionally, there was the Black Blood Road opened up by ancient cultivators. It was a commercial route carved through the narrow regions of the mountain range’s branches.
To the north of Huanglong Immortal City, the Black Blood Road connected with the Liuyun Sect on the other side of the Black Fog Mountain Range branch, linking two great cultivation families and numerous medium and small factions.
Further north from the Liuyun Sect was the territory of Fengyuan Country, separated by the perilous Flying Sand region.
After flying north for over half a month, Lan Chang'an reached the valley passageway of the Black Fog Mountain Range’s branch.
This location was somewhat deeper, situated between the Beast Taming Zhou Family and Huanglong Immortal City.
The valley passageway stretched for hundreds of li. During this journey, there were almost no traces of demonic beasts; if there were, they were hunted by nearby hunting teams.
The real concern was rogue cultivators. Fortunately, disciples from the Liuyun Sect often came here to complete missions, eliminating well-known rogue cultivators to earn sect contributions.
As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, Lan Chang'an passed safely through the valley passageway. During the journey, he sensed rogue cultivators in the shadows but they refrained from targeting him.
Afterwards, Lan Chang'an truly entered the northern border of the Liang Kingdom. The Green Underworld Mysterious Realm was not far from the other end of the Black Fog Mountain Range’s branch.
...
In the desolate desert.
Near a tall, hundred-zhang green-black stone wall, some cultivators were scattered sparsely about. These cultivators were mostly at the Foundation Establishment stage or higher.
At this moment, a young man in a gray robe arrived in the area, riding a flying boat.
The surrounding Foundation Establishment cultivators glanced casually at him, then ignored him.
The young man in the gray robe had ordinary power and an unremarkable aura, making his presence rather low-key.
“Hmm, that person seems to be the Turtle Talisman Master, the rumored cultivator who achieved Foundation Establishment cultivator at seventy?”
Some cultivators recognized Lan Chang'an, whispering among themselves.
Lan Chang'an sat cross-legged beside a hill of the desert, waiting with eyes closed.
At present, none of the major sects or significant powers had arrived.
A few of the Foundation Establishment cultivators here were likely participants who bought expensive spots, all at mid to late Foundation Establishment Realm. They were at least somewhat famous in Liang's cultivation world. Most of the other cultivators had similar goals to Lan Chang'an’s.
They camped here to establish connections with those entering the secret realm, hoping to buy rare resources from them when they emerged.
Some of these Foundation Establishment cultivators were representatives of large shops or merchant associations.
Half a month later.
“Hmm? The aura of a Core Formation Immortal…” Lan Chang'an sensed a powerful Core Formation aura approaching from the north.
He remained still, avoiding looking in that direction, keeping his spiritual sense tightly guarded.
After about ten breaths later, a twenty to thirty-zhang-long tower-like ship, carrying over thirty cultivators, flew toward the green-black stone wall.
The ship landed, and the first cultivator to step off was a tall, sturdy young man with a firm face.
“Greetings to Senior Tuoba.”
The nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators stood up and saluted.
Indeed, the young man in the early Core Formation stage was Tuoba Jin, who had once challenged the Fake-Dan at Huanglong Immortal City.
Traditionally, representatives of the major sects visiting the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm were usually at the mid-Core Formation Realm. However, Tuoba Jin was a true Golden-Dan cultivator, whose foundation and power surpassed those of the same level with True-Dans.
“No need for formalities.”
Tuoba Jin’s spiritual sense casually swept the area as someone swiftly brought him a chair and pavilion to sit in.
“The Liuyun Sect is second only to Flame Departing Palace in the Liang Kingdom, located in the northern region nearest to the Green Underworld Mysterious Realm, so they naturally arrived first.” Lan Chang'an pondered.
The Liuyun Sect had at least seven or eight known Core Formation Immortals and dozens of Fake-Dan cultivators on the surface.
Two or three days later, a stronger aura than Tuoba Jin’s approached from the south through the Black Fog Mountain Range.
To be precise, there were two powerful auras.
“Huanglong Immortal!”
The nearby Foundation Establishment cultivators showed respectful expressions.
In the southern sky, a third-rank dragon beast, resembling a crocodile and a flood dragon, flew with a length of fifteen to sixteen zhang, carrying several figures on its back.
On the dragon beast’s head stood a middle-aged man in a black and yellow robe, of medium build, with bronze skin, a broad forehead, and streaks of silver in his temples.
This was Lan Chang'an’s first time seeing “Huanglong Immortal,” the foremost wandering cultivator of the Liang Kingdom.
This content is taken from freёwebnovel.com.
To avoid attracting the attention of the Core Formation Immortal, he only observed out of the corner of his eye.
...
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