Chapter 87 : Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle

Chapter 87: Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle

Tianxuan City.

“Master Talisman Lin, the forelimbs of this Ironback Mantis Demon are extremely sharp, and this carapace as well. It's just a pity that the materials are a bit limited. If these forelimbs are fused with your Bamboo Sword, it can be upgraded to a premium-grade magical artifact.

However, the carapace doesn’t match the materials of this Blackiron Shield. It can only be used alone to craft a defensive artifact. Moreover, the material might only be enough to create a high-grade magical artifact.”

Inside the Dustless Pavilion, a shop under the influence of Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle in Tianxuan City, Lin Changan was discussing artifact refinement with a Foundation Establishment cultivator specialized in the craft.

“In that case, I’ll trouble you, Fellow Daoist.”

Lin Changan cupped his hands with a smile. After hunting the Ironback Mantis Demon, fortunately, he had collected all its materials.

It was a pity there was only one forelimb—otherwise, it would have been even more valuable.

“No need to be so polite, Fellow Daoist. A deposit of one hundred mid-grade spirit stones, and the remaining one hundred after completion.”

As he took out the mid-grade spirit stones, Lin Changan felt a pang of heartache—this was just for upgrading a magical artifact.

The price of purchasing a premium-grade magical artifact started at over 500 mid-grade spirit stones, with flying needle types even higher.

Premium-grade magical artifacts were often infused with materials of spirit artifact level, hence they were also referred to as spirit artifacts.

“Mid-grade spirit stones... I didn’t expect I’d be fretting over spirit stones again.”

After stepping out of the Dustless Pavilion and walking through the marketplace streets, Lin Changan furrowed his brows in thought, calculating how many mid-grade spirit stones and sources of income he still had.

“An ordinary second-rank low-grade talisman master, without affecting cultivation, and excluding the cost of talisman crafting, would only earn about five or six mid-grade spirit stones a month—barely a hundred per year.”

Of course, there were also some Foundation Establishment cultivators who specialized in hunting second-rank demon beasts. High risk, high reward.

However, most of those cultivators would go years without an opportunity, and one successful hunt would sustain them for years.

On the other hand, cultivators with a craft or skill were more stable.

His talent was ten times that of his peers in talisman crafting, and even that wasn’t his limit. But he had only recently advanced to second-rank talisman master, and still needed to cultivate regularly and refine pills in secret.

Moreover, he was also preparing for the auction half a year from now, planning to purchase a flying needle-type magical artifact. The spirit stones in his storage pouch were truly not many.

“For Foundation Establishment cultivators, mid-grade spirit stones are extremely precious—be it for formations or emergency recovery of spiritual power. Even they are reluctant to waste them.”

In short, mid-grade spirit stones were strategic resources for Foundation Establishment cultivators, rarely used for casual transactions.

“However, the auction half a year from now must not be missed. I’ll ease up on pill refinement for now and earn some mid-grade spirit stones through second-rank talismans.”

Having set a plan, Lin Changan finally relaxed and smiled.

As the news of Master Lu's injury spread, it instead attracted a multitude of cultivators to Tianxuan City.

Some came for the auction half a year later, while others hoped to take advantage of the ensuing chaos.

There were sects from the Yue Kingdom and neighboring countries alike—after all, no one wanted to see a neighboring nation develop peacefully.

Master Lu, once a rogue cultivator, stirred up such a storm, earning admiration from all. Truly worthy of the title “Yue Kingdom's Number One Rogue Cultivator.”

Inside the cave abode.

“You gluttonous big water buffalo!”

By the poolside came peals of playful laughter. Ever since trading Beast Spirit Pills with the Zhou Clan last time, Zhou Bingyun hadn’t visited for a long while.

She had been considering the Azure-Horned Bull’s breakthrough.

Now that she was here and witnessed the growth of the Azure-Horned Bull, she was overjoyed. After all, even in the Zhou Clan, there were only a few second-rank spirit beasts.

Raising a spirit beast demanded significant time and cost. Even with the Zhou Clan’s capability, resources were more often reserved for the clansmen.

“Brother Lin, you wouldn’t believe how despicable my clan uncle is. He had good talent and joined the Palace of Blazing Fire. Our whole clan supported him with resources, and in the end, he bit the hand that fed him…”

Zhou Bingyun angrily waved her tiny fists, recounting internal clan matters. It was clear this was the person who had leaked the Zhou Clan’s secrets.

At that moment, within the pavilion, Lin Changan, holding a jade slip and reading insights on spells, raised his eyebrows slightly upon hearing this.

This girl was clearly saying it on purpose—not only to clear up the misunderstanding over the Beast Spirit Pills from last time, but also to show that the Zhou Clan had suffered even greater losses, nearly losing a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Lin Changan shook his head and smiled. This girl was exceedingly clever—always using casual conversation to build rapport and resolve misunderstandings.

“You say he’s part of the Zhou Clan, but he distanced himself from the family at a young age, immersed in sect teachings. So tell me, where do you think his loyalties lie?”

Behind Lin Changan’s calm smile lay a statement of harsh reality in the world of cultivation.

“You say he is a member of the Zhou Clan, but in his eyes, it was the sect that nurtured him.”

“When there is no conflict between family and sect, he is the pride of the clan, a pillar of the sect.”

“But once a conflict arises, he can only choose one. Should he betray the sect? Or become a thankless ingrate to his family?”

A dilemma!

“Brother Lin.”

What was originally a serious topic was brushed aside by Zhou Bingyun’s playful smile as she shook her head and said:

“It’s just that the clan raised him for so many years, and he often asked the family for help. Otherwise, my father wouldn’t be so furious.”

For even the steady-hearted head of the Zhou Clan to hold such a lasting grudge, one could imagine how precious that rare exotic beast must have been.

“But Brother Lin, recently a lot of foreign cultivators have arrived in Tianxuan City. Even many rogue cultivators from neighboring countries are swarming in.”

“Some wish to catch a glimpse of Master Lu’s bearing, while others are looking to take advantage of the chaos.”

As Zhou Bingyun spoke, her expression grew somewhat serious. Though she didn’t say it outright, her words clearly held deeper meaning.

“A Golden Core spiritual item, huh!”

A sudden realization struck Lin Changan. Just as Qi Refinement cultivators were tempted by Foundation Establishment, Golden Core was an irresistible lure to those in the late stage of Foundation Establishment.

Master Lu had been injured, and he was making plans for his disciple’s Golden Core. If chaos broke out, would that be an opportunity to seize the spiritual item needed for forming the core?

Cultivators who had reached late-stage Foundation Establishment were already quite old. Many didn’t have much lifespan left unless they took desperate risks.

“But this Master Lu—was he really injured?”

Lin Changan was somewhat suspicious. How could the strongest rogue cultivator of the Yue Kingdom, who had clawed his way to his current status, so easily let news of his injury slip?

Could there be some scheme behind all this?

Inside the pavilion, Lin Changan furrowed his brows in silent thought, pondering the turbulence that Tianxuan City was about to face. Meanwhile, Zhou Bingyun laughed playfully by the pool, grooming the Azure-Horned Bull’s fur.

At this moment in Tianxuan City, within Master Lu’s cave abode.

“Master, quite a few late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators from neighboring countries have arrived recently.”

“Not only that, but the Palace of Blazing Fire is stirring up trouble in secret. The three major sects clearly don’t want Senior Sister to form her core in half a year.”

Wu Yan, the eldest disciple of Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle, had a rugged face and fierce brows. At this moment, he looked genuinely worried for his junior sister.

Beside him, the third disciple Song Tingfeng, with his handsome face, glanced at his second senior sister with a faint trace of hidden affection in his eyes, and also nodded:

“That’s right, Master. Senior Sister’s Golden Core is critical. Should we return to Abyss City and attempt it there?”

The second disciple, Su Miaoyin, remained silent throughout. Both her senior and junior brothers were long accustomed to how their master interacted with this senior sister.

“What sort of place is Abyss City? Surrounded by wolves and tigers. Even I wouldn’t dare guarantee my own safety there.”

Master Lu, seated at the head, gave a cold snort. His eyes, weathered by the years, brimmed with traces of time.

Now, he appeared even more aged, showing signs of having less than a hundred years of lifespan remaining.

“I’m not dead yet. Tianxuan City still has the Blackwater Turtle. Just a bunch of jumping clowns.”

Master Lu waved his hand as his calm voice echoed. The two disciples respectfully cupped their hands and withdrew. Left alone in the cave abode, Su Miaoyin quietly gazed at her master—or rather, her father.

Once no outsiders were present, Master Lu’s face revealed a mocking smile.

“Miaoyin, in the world of cultivation, power is the only truth. The moment you show a hint of weakness, someone will come to bully you. Look at me—I’m still here, and already these clowns are crawling out.”

Below him, Su Miaoyin, dressed in a Daoist nun’s robe, nodded indifferently.

“Master, ever since you returned to the Yue Kingdom, you’ve planned everything. First, you faked an injury and spread rumors of your dwindling lifespan. Then, you announced my Golden Core. Master’s Dao heart remains as firm as ever.”

If any other Foundation Establishment cultivator had spoken to him like this, he would’ve been furious. But toward the one who called him “Master”—his daughter—Master Lu remained silent.

Back then, after being injured and losing his cultivation, he had disguised himself as a Qi Refinement rogue cultivator to take refuge with the Su Clan. He and the young miss of the Su Clan had found common ground, and unexpectedly, after parting ways, she had borne him a daughter.

It wasn’t until disaster befell the Su Clan that he learned of Su Miaoyin’s existence—already wandering as a rogue cultivator and having endured a rough path.

In the end, the Yue Kingdom’s number one rogue cultivator, Master Lu, could only sigh and wave his hand helplessly:

“Enough. This time, let’s see how many with ulterior motives we can lure out. Go and prepare yourself. Your spirit root aptitude isn’t bad, but it still doesn’t compare to that girl from the Pavilion of Mystic Sound. Now is not yet the critical moment to attempt Golden Core.”

“Once you completely refine the spiritual pill within you and elevate your spirit root to Earth-grade aptitude, you’ll have an eighty to ninety percent chance of success.”

Master Lu of the Blackwater Turtle had always been cautious. He showed himself to the public as mid-stage Golden Core, but even Su Miaoyin didn’t know that his true cultivation had already reached the peak of Golden Core.

Though he returned this time with great ambitions, he could not allow his daughter to risk forming her core carelessly.

The path of cultivation was long and lonely. To have a relative walking alongside him brought a touch of warmth to his otherwise solitary heart.