Cultivation Starting from Full Talent-Chapter 242 - 240 Brazen

Chapter 242: Chapter 240: Brazen

Chapter 242 -240: Brazen

The following morning, at dawn.

Ning Daoran had been busy all night, and when he emerged from underground, he was drenched in sweat.

“How did it go?”

Lin Man stepped forward, using a fragrant brocade handkerchief to dab the sweat from his forehead.

Ning Daoran was somewhat unaccustomed to this closeness; he could already feel the breath as fragrant as orchids from the other person, and Lin Man’s body scent was also distinctly clear.

“It is done.”

Ning Daoran cast several spells, activating a control jade talisman, and handed it to Lin Man.

“I have reinforced the array and set up several trigger-warning arrays. If you see the light flickering on this jade talisman, it means someone is tampering with the underground prohibition.”

He smiled faintly, “For the repairs and reinforcements, I’ve used a total of 1,500 spirit stones.”

In reality, he had only used a little over eight hundred spirit stones; the rest were his “markup.”

“In that case, let’s charge 3,000 spirit stones to the Immortal City,” Lin Man suggested with a shallow dimpled smile.

And so, the two exchanged a smile, an unspoken understanding between them.

…

In the afternoon, at a Second Order Top-grade Cave Mansion within the city.

“Is Puppet Master Nalan at home?”

Ning Daoran stood outside of the Cave Mansion, sending in a Sound Transmission Talisman.

Soon after, the prohibition on the great doors of the Cave Mansion dispersed, and Nolan Canghai and Chen Qian, the couple, walked out together, both faces beaming with joy.

They had always refrained from visiting lightly, fearing they might disturb Ning Daoran’s cultivation.

Moreover, Foundation Establishment Cultivators frequently visiting Golden Core Cultivators could give rise to suspicions. Relations and favors in the world were not something one could solicit just by fawning; mutual willingness was necessary.

“Senior Ning!”

Nolan Canghai smiled as he spoke, “We heard that Senior Ning had gone out to sea, and my wife has recently been seeking to make a breakthrough in the Alchemy Dao; therefore, we didn’t come to visit. We hope Senior Ning will forgive us!”

“Not at all,” replied Ning Daoran with a smile. “It’s I who must ask for forgiveness for visiting you and your esteemed wife so abruptly. I was actually worried that my visit might be somewhat presumptuous.”

“You jest, Senior,” Chen Qian chuckled. “Having Senior Ning visit brightens our humble abode!”

Saying this, she glanced sideways at Nolan Canghai, “Hurry, and invite Senior Ning inside for tea!”

“Yes, yes!” Nolan Canghai agreed with a chuckling nod.

Inside the Cave Mansion, a cup of fragrant tea gave off an appealing aroma.

The spiritual tea was of exceptional quality; the Nolan couple had brought out their finest teas to entertain their distinguished guest.

“Fellow Daoist Nalan,”

Ning Daoran spoke, feeling slightly embarrassed, “Actually, I’ve come to seek your help with a matter. I wonder if you are currently free. If you’re busy, I can wait for another time.”

“I’m free!” Nolan Canghai replied with a wide smile, considering it an unimaginable honor that Ning Daoran would seek his help. This could naturally lead to establishing a connection with a Golden Core Great Cultivator!

“Good.”

Ning Daoran lightly tapped on his Storage Bag, and mana levitated a ten-meter-long Mechanical Snake onto the ground, saying, “This is a Third-tier Lower Grade Puppet that I’ve recently acquired. It’s slightly damaged but should be repairable.

I have no understanding of the Puppet Skill, but Fellow Daoist Nalan is a master in this field, so I wanted to bring it to you to see if it is possible to repair. If it can be repaired, I will cover the cost of the materials, and I assure you that I won’t skimp on your repair fee either.”

“Senior doesn’t need to speak so formally with me. Let me take a look at the puppet first,” Nolan Canghai responded.

“Good.”

Then, Nolan Canghai began to inspect the Mechanical Snake, at times cradling its head in his arms, at times prying open its mouth to fiddle around inside with his hand.

The most uptodate nove𝙡s are published on frёewebnoѵel.ƈo๓.

Finally, having put the Mechanical Snake down, he confidently stated, “As Senior has said, this Mechanical Snake is not completely damaged. The damaged parts are only the elemental crystal controlling the puppet’s movement and some minor control prohibitions.”

He smiled modestly, “Truth be told, I’m only a Second Order Top Grade Puppet Master and not qualified to refine Third-tier Lower Grade Puppets. Yet, if it is merely for repair, I am willing to give it a try.”

“Good.” Ning Daoran nodded. “Just tell me what materials you need, and I will purchase them.”

“No need,” Nolan Canghai declared with a smile. “As a Puppet Master, it happens that I have a Third-tier Lower Grade Elemental Crystal, and there is an ample surplus of prohibition materials. Please wait a moment, Senior. I will start the repairs now, and I won’t keep you waiting long.”

…

Nolan Canghai got busy quickly.

After studying the Mechanical Snake’s head for some time, he pulled out a Phillips-head screwdriver…

The damage to the Mechanical Snake was minor; it had only been its elemental crystal which Ning Daoran had shattered with mana. Therefore, the repairs were easy: replacing the elemental crystal, tidying up the prohibitions, erasing the previous master’s essence, and re-cultivating it.

In less than half a day, the repairs were complete.

“Zi zi~~”

With the sound of mechanical movement, the previously limp Mechanical Snake once again raised its head high, and its pair of crimson eyes lit up. Its mana continuously escalated until it reached the standard of a Third-tier Low Grade.

His true combat power was on a par with that of ordinary Golden Core Early Stage cultivators.

“Senior, it’s ready!”

Nolan Canghai offered up a Jade Talisman, saying, “This is the controlling talisman for the Mechanical Snake. Senior can imprint your own Qi into it to use, and if you wish to give it to someone else, just refine it again.”

“Good, thank you!”

Ning Daoran kept the Mechanical Snake in his Storage Bag and smiled, “I wonder how much for this Elemental Crystal and the materials for the Prohibition?”

“Senior, there’s no need for such formality. This small gesture hardly requires mention.”

“That won’t do.”

Ning Daoran shook his head, “If that’s the case, I would not dare to seek your help with anything related to the Puppet Skill in the future. Just as if you sought my assistance with forming an Array, I would also collect Spirit Stones, at most I’d give a discount. Not taking a single Spirit Stone is not in accordance with the rules.”

“Since that’s the case…”

Chen Qian blinked her eyes, “The Elemental Crystal and the materials for reforging added together are worth about 3,000 Spirit Stones in the market. Senior needs only give half, 1,500 Spirit Stones!”

“That’s too little.”

Ning Daoran took out 2,000 Spirit Stones and smiled, “I took up Fellow Daoist Nolan’s precious time, this must also be accounted for.”

“Many thanks, Senior Ning!”

Nolan Canghai did not insist on refusing and accepted them right away, as the sum of Spirit Stones was indeed significant.

That Third-tier Elemental Crystal, clearly marked for sale at 3,000 Spirit Stones in Qingfu Square, was actually understated by Chen Qian.

“The two of you, if there’s a need for anything related to Arrays, feel free to seek me out,”

Ning Daoran said with a smile as he rose to leave, “Of course, if you are planning for Core Formation and need help within my capabilities, do not hesitate to ask.”

“Good, thank you, Senior!”

The couple saw him off from their Cave Mansion, their faces filled with exhilaration and joy.

If Ning Daoran’s offer of help in the field of Arrays was considered a small matter, then his willingness to assist with Core Formation was truly priceless.

The help and guidance of a solid Golden Core Early Stage Cultivator could surely greatly increase the success rate of Core Formation.

…

Two months later.

Ning Daoran and Lin Man continued their quiet cultivation.

By now, news of a tragedy echoed across the street. Jin Shan, who had been wholly dedicated to cultivation ever since returning to Immortal City, was found dead in his own Cave Mansion!

With this, all three brothers of the Jin Family at the Foundation Establishment stage had perished.

The death of a Loose Cultivator was like a feather, barely causing a ripple within Immortal White Dragon City.

Ning Daoran stepped out of his Cave Mansion, looking from afar at the Cave Mansion that belonged to the Jin Brothers.

At this moment, several patrolling cultivators and constables in black robes from the Court were constantly moving in and out of the Cave Mansion.

After Ning Daoran released his Golden Core Divine Sense to scan the area, he saw Jin Shan lying on the bed with blood flowing from his seven orifices, his heart meridian and all his veins shattered, having died a tragic death.

“Array Master Ning,”

a Mid-stage Foundation Establishment City Patrol Cultivator who was examining the body stepped forward and lamented, “Who would have thought that the fate of the Jin Brothers would be so tragic, all falling within a mere half year.”

“Have you determined the cause of Jin Shan’s death?” asked Ning Daoran.

“He died from a failed attempt to Breakthrough…”

The City Patrol Cultivator shook his head and said, “It’s quite a pity. He was too eager in his Mental State and used the Snow Toad Pill to attempt a Breakthrough through the Mystical Gate trying to enter Late-stage Foundation Establishment before the right time, the result is as one might expect, with blood vessels blocked, meridians broken, and a most horrific death.”

Ning Daoran nodded silently and returned to his Cave Mansion without a word.

Such rhetoric about death from a failed Breakthrough was mere deception.

Jin Shan was obviously murdered; the hemorrhage from all orifices and shattered channels were the result of being suppressed to death by Spiritual Pressure.

Thus, there was only one truth: someone had broken into Jin Shan’s Cave Mansion and killed him.

And indeed, Ning Daoran’s Golden Core Divine Sense had also detected something—there was a freshly repaired breach beneath the Mansion’s Prohibition, clearly fixed in haste after someone had shattered the protection, with the repair work bearing no resemblance to the original craftwork, obviously the work of two different Array Masters.

Besides, all those cultivators who had been moving in and out of the Cave Mansion, each had a bulging Storage Bag, nearly all the Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures stored by the Jin Brothers had been looted by these people.

“Could that person have appeared again?”

Ning Daoran frowned, he couldn’t help but link the murderer of Jin Shan with the grey-robed elderly at the Golden Core stage, since the ability to silently penetrate Prohibition and enter a Mansion to kill was not something just anyone possessed.

However, Ning Daoran did not take a strong stand on Jin Shan’s case, at least not for now, as it did not appear necessary.

…

Several days later.

The Cave Mansion that once housed the Jin Brothers was cleaned out and a new cultivator moved in for cultivation.

The man wore a green robe, had a dark countenance, and was enshrouded in a faint Evil Qi—it was hard to imagine how many people he had killed to cultivate such Evil Qi that almost rendered one unable to look directly at him.

It was Jing Xu!

Ning Daoran suddenly found it a bit laughable—the audacity of these people, was it really so blatant?

At dusk.

A voice simultaneously reached both Ning Daoran and Lin Man’s Cave Mansions.

“Fellow Daoist Ning, Talisman Master Lin, I am Jing Xu and have officially moved into the Cave Mansion across the street. Since we have become neighbors, we should live in harmony. I have prepared a banquet and invited a few nearby Fellow Daoists. I hope the two of you will do me the honor of sparing some time to attend,”