Chapter 510 - 267: Targeting the Long Family

Lin Chang’an’s remark was essentially saying to observe the changing situation and engage in favorable battles.

This way, the risk is minimized, but so are the benefits.

Lu Yushu was taken aback by these words; it wasn’t what he expected.

"Mr. Lin, many of the shops in the Five Dragons Island Market are under the Long Family’s control."

However, Lin Chang’an merely shook his head with a smile, clearly uninterested.

Watching this scene from the pavilion, Lu Yujian quietly breathed a sigh of relief. From the start, this patriarch had the intention of biting off more than he could chew.

Although he didn’t understand much, his mother had expressed concerns beforehand, saying that risk and reward are always proportional.

The Lu Family had rapidly expanded, and what was needed now was not continuous rapid growth but to digest these gains and strengthen its power.

After all, a significant portion of the Lu Family’s benefits were dependent on others.

And this dependency was very unstable.

But his mother helplessly reminded him not to speak out and stop the patriarch, as she was no longer the family head.

"Mr. Lin, if you and I join forces, along with the Sixth Elder over there..."

Lu Yushu was still somewhat reluctant to give up, while Lin Chang’an shook his head and reminded:

"Mr. Lu, the Sixth Elder might be a paper tiger that can intimidate others, but if we actually compete for benefits, there will be a backlash!"

In the end, this reliance is not solid.

They can intimidate others on regular days, but if they really infringe on the Long Family’s interests, a furious wolf will not care who stands behind them.

Moreover, will the Sixth Elder’s concubine, Fairy Tan, really make a move for them?

Absolutely not, Lin Chang’an didn’t even consider this; they weren’t of that caliber yet.

Ultimately, Lu Yushu opened his mouth to say something, but seeing Lin Chang’an’s disinterest in discussing the matter, he could only swallow his words.

Yet, he felt a bit suffocated, believing that Lin Chang’an had become more timid after reaching Core Formation.

In the Immortal Cultivation Realm, resources are the most important, and resources must be fought for.

But Lin Chang’an understood one thing: only take what you can digest, or you’ll choke.

...

In the pavilion, watching Lu Yushu leave, Lin Chang’an shook his head.

"At this point, doesn’t the Lu Family understand their own capabilities? Excessive greed isn’t always a blessing."

Only with matching power can one deter others, otherwise, having too many resources can instead incite others’ greed.

The resources the Lu Family currently holds, with my collaboration, have already attracted a lot of envious eyes.

"Master, these are the invitation letters from other families."

At that moment, the Sword Servant respectfully handed over several invitation letters, but Lin Chang’an didn’t even look at them, already aware of their intentions.

"Announce that I am going into seclusion for a period."

Lin Chang’an wanted to avoid entanglement in this trouble and chose the simplest method: seclusion and refusing all visitors.

"Yes, Master!"

The Sword Servant nodded respectfully, and Lin Chang’an, after drinking the spirit tea in his cup, turned back into his cave residence.

In the pavilion, the Sword Servant, adeptly tidying up the tea-making utensils, was about to clean up the leftover spirit tea when a sudden mooing sound rang out.

"Moo!"

At that moment, the Cyan-Horned Bull in the pond showed a greedy expression.

Hearing this, the Sword Servant lifted his head and, for once, smiled faintly, gesturing with a finger as a line of water shot straight into the Cyan-Horned Bull’s mouth.

The spirit tea usually consumed by Golden Core cultivators is also a rare spiritual object for Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Cautiously, the Sword Servant extracted a private teacup from his storage bag for the remaining small portion of spirit tea leaves.

Sitting on a stone in front of the pond, gazing at the lazy Cyan-Horned Bull, the Sword Servant softly sipped from the teacup, cradled in both hands.

For these small matters, Lin Chang’an was naturally well aware.

But he didn’t stop it, believing it’s better to give it to one’s own people than to waste it.

...

Not only Lin Chang’an, a Tier Three Array Master, but also Wen Danshi from Red Fire Peak, announced their seclusion for cultivation.

Simultaneously, many cultivators also began retreating into seclusion to avoid this turmoil.

Half a month later, the Five Dragons Island was abuzz with the mana fluctuations from a Core Formation cultivator battle, attracting numerous onlookers.

Disguised and already in the market, Lin Chang’an, sitting in a restaurant, squinted his eyes upon sensing this fluctuation.

"This aura indicates a battle between Core Formation Late Stage cultivators!"

Master Hai challenged the Dragon Island Master, a late-stage Core Formation battle against one at the peak.

But after failing at Nascent Soul Formation, this Dragon Island Master was severely weakened, his current strength uncertain.

Under the terrifying mana fluctuations of this battle, they were palpable even in the market, drawing the attention of many Golden Core cultivators.

"Quickly, more Core Formation cultivators are heading towards the Long Family’s direction."

"The places where the Long Family can achieve Core Formation on the entire Five Dragons Island are quite limited, and I’ve heard the price of Forbidden-Breaking Talismans has soared recently."

Amid the probing divine sense of Core Formation cultivators, nearby cultivators’ discussions echoed, prompting Lin Chang’an to shake his head.

"From the looks of it, Master Hai is testing the Long Family’s strength. If this Dragon Island Master has weakened considerably, the Long Family could face its greatest challenge."

Following this battle’s conclusion, it would lead to a series of setups targeted at the Long Family, considering the well-known places for Core Formation.

As long the Long Family had someone undergoing Core Formation, people would definitely try to interfere.

But this had little to do with him.

"Long Qing, being the visible business head of the Long Family’s Foundation Establishment cultivators, surely won’t remain hidden, or it will only arouse suspicion."

Disguised, Lin Chang’an watched the defensive lines of the Core Formation cultivators’ battle remnants, his gaze glimmering.

"The Long Family’s business is substantial, but only a few people have the final say. Seizing the moment when all the Long Family’s Core Formation cultivators are drawn away, finding Long Qing ensures I get what I need."

From previous observations, Long Qing’s cultivation seemed to suggest that his Core Formation was likely only achieved within the last couple of years.

If delayed, and the other party refined this as their lifebound spirit plant after Core Formation, plotting against him then would mean dealing with a Core Formation cultivator.

The risks would be significantly higher.

"As long as Long Qing is not in the Long Family’s estate, I am confident in retrieving my treasure."

With this thought, Lin Chang’an nodded silently.

Opportunities were rare. With the Long Family being restrained, missing it would make planning even harder alone.

Of course, Lin Chang’an was mentally prepared for failure.

...

This battle only concluded by dusk.

The curtain fell with Master Hai fleeing in defeat, while the Dragon Island Master emerged triumphant.

Lin Chang’an, continuously observing the situation, frowned slightly.

"It seems this Dragon Island Master’s injuries weren’t light."

Battle reports were now rampant, with nearly every cultivator clearly aware.

Once a peak Core Formation Dragon Island Master, his strength was extraordinarily powerful, yet this time he fought a drawn-out battle against a late-stage Core Formation Master Hai.

Though cultivator battles also consider factors like terrain, magical treasures, and divine techniques,

this Dragon Island Master’s magical treasure was a top-grade Tier Three Magical Treasure, yet he didn’t achieve the overwhelming victory of the past.

Clearly, this Dragon Island Master had suffered severe primordial energy loss and significant strength decline.

"Now, Master Hai probably has insight into this Dragon Island Master’s approximate condition."

Lin Chang’an shook his head, placing down his teacup, and turned toward a Long Family shop within the market.

Now, Long Family’s shops were crowded with numerous cultivators.

All were waiting for something to happen to the Long Family, ready to take advantage.

"Long Qing, found you!"

Entering this shop, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smirk; he sensed a familiar aura.

It seemed the other party hadn’t secretly undergone Core Formation.

However, he wouldn’t act like these loose cultivators, waiting for Long Family’s turmoil before making a move.

A Long Family turmoil inevitably meant they were preparing for Core Formation, and Long Qing might hide in a secret location.

Thus, he chose to act in advance.

Undoubtedly, the Long Family’s Core Formation cultivators were already being watched, every move affecting the whole system.

"Fellow cultivator, our Long Family shop plans to close temporarily for reorganization."

In the tumult, the Long Family opted for the safest approach.

However, upon entering the shop, the disguised late-Foundation Establishment cultivator Lin Chang’an responded with a raspy laugh.

"Close? I have a treasure that I believe your Long Family urgently needs right now."

Afterwards, Lin Chang’an transmitted a message covertly, causing the pupil of the Long Family cultivator receiving him to constrict instantly.

"Fellow cultivator, please head upstairs."

The next moment, facing the respectful demeanor of his counterpart, Lin Chang’an smiled.

In these tumultuous times, different people have different ways of profiting.

For instance, some choose to speculate, seizing the opportunity to raise prices and sell urgently needed treasures to the Long Family at high prices.

The disguised cultivator he played was among them, entirely logical.

More importantly, he needed to confirm whether Long Qing still possessed the Profound Celestial Withered Leaves; should he do so!

That would present an opportunity for him.