Free Web NovelChapter 603: Chapter 303: Ten Years Pass in a Flash
Li Huo Island.
More than half a month later, the group from Li Huo Palace finally returned. Four Core Formation Cultivators and over a hundred Foundation Establishment elite arrived at a desolate island, silent as a grave.
A gust of wind blew past, scattering only some scavenging birds and beasts.
"It’s gone!"
"The Island Protection Array has been dismantled, and there are no signs of a forced break-in. It’s been breached from the inside."
"Not a single soul alive on the entire island."
Among the four Core Formation Cultivators, the youngest and most dazzling, Huang Tianxiao, wore a sullen expression as he let out a sinister laugh:
"Well, well! Well! To think there are still those bold enough to challenge Li Huo Palace’s prestige, indeed very good!"
The oldest, and also the strongest late-stage Core Formation Elder of Li Huo Palace, shouted angrily:
"Investigate! The opposing side has plundered so many resources from the island, it’s impossible there isn’t a single clue. Investigate for me!"
This time they suffered a great loss.
...
Compared to the furious investigation by the returning cultivators of Li Huo Palace, the instigators of it all, Lin Chang’an, Yun Yao, and the Sword Servant, had already returned to Five Dragons Island.
Yun Yao’s defection plan was temporarily shelved, and instead, she prepared to continue fighting for the position of Saintess within the Demon Cult, to utilize the resources of the Demon Cult to strengthen her own cultivation.
Meanwhile, Lin Chang’an continued to maintain his status as a Tier Three Array Master on Celestial Spring Peak, occasionally visited by people requesting him to repair arrays.
The two secretly maintained contact, exchanging information.
It seemed as if nothing had happened at all.
After all, who would have thought that someone not proficient in killing, a Tier Three Array Master at the early stage of Core Formation, wouldn’t even arrange someone to explore the Secret Realm he was guarding.
How could he have committed such a heinous case in the Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea.
On this day, in the Pavilion on Celestial Spring Peak.
"Master, the Secret Realm has been turbulent lately. According to many Array Masters’ observations, the restrictions are weakest during the third, sixth, and ninth months of each year. Several forces have already dispatched Foundation Establishment teams to investigate..."
Listening to the Sword Servant’s report, Lin Chang’an nodded slightly, but the next words made him reveal a peculiar expression.
"But half a year ago, the four Core Formation cultivators of Li Huo Palace in the Heaven-Reaching Mist Sea fought several times with the malevolent duo of the Demon Dao. Later, for unknown reasons, they resolved their grudge.
Currently, both sides seem to have joined forces and are secretly searching for the remnants of the Divine Sword Sect..."
Knowing full well it was his doing, the Sword Servant remained expressionless, as if it indeed had nothing to do with him.
This demeanor made Lin Chang’an nod in approval, this girl remained calm even if the world collapsed, her mindset wasn’t bad.
Perhaps the innate advantage in the mindset comes from having one of the three Sword Cultivation Spirit Bodies.
"Search? Then let them search thoroughly."
Upon hearing this, Lin Chang’an smiled faintly. He and Yun Yao hadn’t left a trace back then.
Even if someone were to investigate, they wouldn’t trace it back to him.
The clues would stop directly at Bibo Island.
Of course, the premise was that nothing he obtained got exposed, such as the Fire Dragon Pearl he received.
"Once my Artifact Refining skills advance to Tier Three, I’ll refine the two Magical Treasures of the Divine Sword Sect, as well as this Fire Dragon Pearl."
Lin Chang’an’s eyes flickered with determination. For the foreseeable future, he decided to cultivate peacefully on Five Dragons Island.
Resources were not in shortage for the time being, and he hadn’t faced any bottlenecks in his cultivation. Planning for a Nascent Soul transition was still distant, and the most crucial thing now was to enhance his strength.
"Being at the early stage of Core Formation is still too weak in this volatile situation."
[Life Span: 175/606]
[Realm: Core Golden Early Stage (43/100)]
"At one hundred seventy-five years old, I must advance to the middle stage of Core Formation before turning two hundred."
As his cultivation advanced, Lin Chang’an increasingly felt the disparity within.
For instance, compared to when he first formed his core, his mana was significantly less potent now.
Although the power struggle on Five Dragons Island appeared tumultuous, the turmoil mainly affected low tier cultivators and had little impact on them, the Golden Core cultivators.
But once the restrictions of the Yin Soul Sect weakened to the point Core Formation cultivators could enter, that was when the real chaos would begin.
"The temptation of a Nascent Soul sect is enough to make even a Nascent Soul Old Monster greedy, and by then, I’ll need to have a middle-stage Core Formation cultivation to protect myself."
Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh softly, at this moment, he increasingly admired the high-handed methods of Bihai Palace.
Since forming his core and arriving at Five Dragons Island on Celestial Spring Peak less than fifty years ago, he engaged in trade dealings with the Lu Family’s merchant guild, managed shops in the market, and maintained connections and business with the Profound Sound Pavilion.
Having too many vested interests here, not to mention ordinary Core Formation cultivators, even he found it challenging to part with them now.
"Yet all the same, cultivation is the foundation."
Thinking of this, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but raise his head, reminding the Sword Servant beside him:
"The external situation is increasingly turbulent. Don’t let it disrupt your cultivation."
"Yes, Master!"
Seeing her master care for her cultivation, a slight emotional change flashed across the Sword Servant’s cold face, as she clenched her fists secretly.
She must diligently cultivate, only by becoming a Core Formation cultivator like her master, could she assist him.
Yet at this time, Lin Chang’an was unaware of the Sword Servant’s thoughts, as he had already headed towards the cave abode.
...
Half a year later, the materials for the Youthful Appearance Pill were finally collected.
The ingredients for refining a Youthful Appearance Pill weren’t particularly precious, but a few main materials were quite rare, usually growing in dangerous regions of the Outer Sea.
In the Earth Fire Chamber of the Profound Sound Pavilion.
"Even refining a pill requires switching hands, it’s still strength that isn’t strong enough."
Lin Chang’an shook his head, then with a pinch of his fingers, he withdrew his avatar into his body.
At this moment, the three Xuan Tian leaves within him blossomed, with the second leaf nearly all green, and the third starting to turn green as well.
