Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

Chapter 589: Chapter 297: Grand Tournament! The Path Ahead

What does the Demon Hunting Squad repeatedly risk their lives for? Isn’t it just for that faint hope that even they themselves know is so remote?

"In the blink of an eye, I am now a Core Formation Cultivator sitting on a high platform."

Scenes flashed through his mind, and finally Lin Chang’an’s gaze swept over the disciples competing below, then slowly looked toward the picturesque entrance of the Sect.

Back then, he didn’t even have the qualification to join a Sect and was turned away at the door.

And outside the gates, how many cultivators struggle bitterly all their lives, only to endure life numbly in the end?

Didn’t they once have grand ambitions as well?

"Time flies so fast."

Recalling scene after scene, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh softly, as this time seems so fleeting.

Standing beside him, Fairy Ni Chang, noticing an inexplicable change in Lin Chang’an’s aura, seemed to have understood something as well, and couldn’t help but chuckle softly, then she took a sip of the Spirit Tea in her hands.

When it came to the competitions among the lower-tier disciples, Lin Chang’an found them surprisingly engaging, occasionally conversing and making remarks with the others.

In the midst of everyone’s jovial conversation, Liu Ruyu probed him about whether he intended to take on disciples, to which Lin Chang’an smilingly shook his head in refusal.

If his future was hopeless, he might consider extending his lineage, taking on disciples and cultivating connections for the sake of posterity.

But now is far from the time for him to stop and settle down.

Having attachments from disciples isn’t necessarily a good thing.

"I see Elder Lin’s two female disciples from Celestial Spring Peak are quite good. Would you be willing to part with them?"

Through the rounds of competitions below, Liu Ruyu couldn’t help but smile.

Watching this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile as well, while beside him, Fairy Ni Chang lowered her eyes to the Spirit Tea in her hand, occasionally blowing on it, as if this cup of Spirit Tea could bloom with flowers.

It was obvious, this wasn’t because she valued the two female cultivators on his Spirit Peak, but rather she wanted to use this to foster a closer relationship.

After all, at the end of the day, he was just an Honored Guest Elder, not a native cultivator of the Profound Sound Pavilion.

"For Mr. Liu to see value in them is naturally their fortune."

Lin Chang’an nodded with a smile; he didn’t take on disciples, so how could he stop others?

And forming closer ties was beneficial for him as well, so he naturally wouldn’t reject or resent it.

Liu Ruyu, being a Core Formation Cultivator, taking on disciples meant the two would have little difficulty reaching Foundation Establishment in the future.

Though they would be Liu Ruyu’s disciples, they could continue to work under him, which could be considered a form of attachment.

Seeing Lin Chang’an nod with a smile, Fairy Ni Chang beside him couldn’t help but breathe a sigh of relief; using tactics openly on acquaintances was something she wasn’t quite used to.

The large internal competition that followed also broadened Lin Chang’an’s horizons, prompting even further silent reflections.

This was the true depth of the Sect’s cultivators; when he was just a Qi Refining Cultivator, in terms of background, there was indeed a gap with the Sect’s top disciples.

The various applications of Spells, the control over Magical Artifacts, these were far beyond the reach of ordinary Loose Cultivators.

Only Loose Cultivators who have been tempered by time and continuously accumulated experience and increased cultivation can slowly bridge that gap.

This internal competition left Lin Chang’an wanting more; sometimes the battles of lower-tier cultivators offered lessons too.

For instance, when one’s Mana was nearly exhausted, one used ordinary Martial Dao techniques to overpower their opponent, which was also brilliant.

And the use of Spirit Pets in coordination; there was so much to learn in the Immortal Cultivation Realm.

Ultimately, the Sect’s grand competition concluded under the setting sun, with the top ten cultivators of this competition being allowed to choose a Spiritual Artifact within the Sect after reaching Foundation Establishment.

Meanwhile, Core Formation Cultivators within the Sect selected favored disciples to take as their own, which excited many cultivators.

The winning disciples showed signs of excitement, finally receiving the Foundation Establishment Pills.

While the losing disciples’ faces were filled with unwillingness and disappointment, they could only grit their teeth and accept their defeat.

The Immortal Cultivation Realm has always been this way.

...

"Mr. Lin, the Seven Kingdoms Alliance took the opportunity of the Secret Realm’s turmoil to form a commerce association, and its development has been quite good over the past two years, providing a rare opportunity for the Sect."

Inside the grand hall.

After the Sect’s grand competition ended, Fairy Ni Chang, holding Spirit Tea, finally revealed the true reason for hosting the competition this time.

The internal competition selected elite disciples, then spent a large number of Foundation Establishment Pills to quickly increase the Sect’s strength in a short period.

In doing so, the Profound Sound Pavilion would have more core disciples to carry out various tasks and seize this opportunity.

"If we do not involve ourselves in the Secret Realm, then this is indeed an opportunity and also a way to quickly close the gap with the Four Seas Commerce Association."

Lin Chang’an agreed strongly with this lowest-risk approach.

After all, Secret Realms rely on luck; sometimes gaining a chance isn’t beneficial but may instead bring fatal disaster.

Liu Ruyu also agreed with the Sect Leader’s decision, but Xu Lingfeng frowned in opposition, "Heaven grants opportunities; if not seized, one incurs guilt; when the time comes but not acted upon, one suffers for it."

"How many times in a lifetime can one encounter such Nascent Soul Secret Realm fortunes? And we cultivators practice precisely to go against destiny; I don’t believe abandoning this opportunity is a good thing."

In any Sect, some choose stability, while others are more aggressive.

Especially after Lin Chang’an succeeded in Pill Formation, Xu Lingfeng was even more determined that opportunity is rare, and he wasn’t any less.

"Senior Sister, perhaps there’s a Nascent Soul fortune in this Secret Realm; are you saying it should also be abandoned?"

Seeing Xu Lingfeng’s sharp appearance, Fairy Ni Chang couldn’t help but furrow her brows slightly, then shook her head and said:

"Junior Brother, even if I obtain so-called Nascent Soul fortune with my current cultivation, it may not be a blessing; the Long Family’s past lessons are still vivid."

Though we cultivators go against destiny, we must plan thoroughly and consider the circumstances, not act on impulse."