Eternal Life from Talisman Painting

A world of scarlet heat.

Amid the screeching of the sky’s fire spirits, it was like a purgatory of molten lava.

In a scarlet valley, with a rumbling sound, the terrifying screech of the fire spirit faded.

"The fire spirits within this Secret Realm and the Fire-Devouring Demon Spirit forcefully condensed by arrays are entirely different. The ones here are truly living creatures, much like the Yin Spirits born in places rich with Yin energy."

Stepping on a weakened fire spirit that still gave off the cries of a bird, Lin Chang’an exerted force the next moment, and with a bang, it turned into a sky full of sparks.

"The heat in this place is becoming increasingly terrifying."

Raising his foot, Lin Chang’an gazed solemnly around. Even Core Formation cultivators could feel the scorching heat here, so one can imagine just how blistering it was.

"Traveling long distances here while having to fend off attacks from fire spirits and other vicious creatures, mana is constantly being consumed. The water attribute Mana Shield, though seemingly consuming little,

in fact requires cultivators to constantly allocate mana to resist the encroaching heat. Coupled with the restrictions within this Secret Realm, cultivators can only proceed on foot, leading to immense consumption."

At this moment, Lin Chang’an looked down and noticed that his Tier Three boots had worn through; even Tier Three material couldn’t withstand the sharp crimson sands.

"Fortunately, my Tier Three Body Refining makes these crimson sands tolerable for me, but for other cultivators, I can only imagine how painful it must be."

As he walked forward, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but sigh softly, understanding why so many Core Formation cultivators perished here—peril was ever-present.

No cultivator could claim that they could always maintain their full mana condition.

This Five Elements Forbidden Land may not take one’s life immediately, but it constantly erodes a cultivator’s mana and endurance.

"There’s no need to conceal this Water Attribute Shield anymore; saving even a little mana is something."

With Lin Chang’an forming a hand seal, he withdrew the Water Attribute Shield surrounding him, replaced by the Inner Four Symbols Dragon Scale Armor within his Dharma Robe, with flame-repelling Spiritual Light flickering around him.

Feeling the refreshing coolness, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.

"As expected, the treasure armor I mended with so many resources can resist the encroaching fire without consuming my own mana, relying solely on its own ability."

Just then, a crisp phoenix cry echoed, and among a group of indistinguishable fire spirits in the scarlet sky, there was a Phoenix Cry Bird.

After all, they were all fiery bird forms, yet in the sky, these fire spirits, with simple sentience, trembled like encountering a nemesis in front of this refined Phoenix Cry Bird.

Hardly any resistance, one by one they were swallowed by the delighted Phoenix Cry Bird.

After circling around and finding no more fire spirits nearby, the Phoenix Cry Bird finally descended with satisfaction.

"Master, I wish I could stay here forever."

After rapidly shrinking, the Phoenix Cry Bird contently landed on Lin Chang’an’s shoulder, hiccuping intermittently as it spoke.

Seeing the Phoenix Cry Bird burping little tendrils of flame from its mouth and nose, Lin Chang’an couldn’t help but chuckle and scold:

"The spiritual energy here is many times denser than outside; you think I don’t want to stay too."

The Phoenix Cry Bird’s round belly now visibly brimmed with strands of fiery red energy, hinting at how many fire spirits it had devoured along the way.

If the poisonous insects of the Wood Forbidden Land were the Phoenix Cry Bird’s favorite delicacy, then the fire spirits in this Fire Forbidden Land were its nourishing spiritual objects.

After all, the Phoenix Cry Bird was a spirit of the fire realm.

Moreover, with a demon beast’s constitution different from human cultivators, Lin Chang’an sensed that after traveling through this Five Elements Forbidden Land, the energy accumulated within the Phoenix Cry Bird.

It might only need to sleep for a time to significantly increase its cultivation.

"Alright then, this Secret Realm has existed for over ten thousand years. The fire spirits are endless; while eating, help me gather some leaving-fire pearls."

The leaving-fire pearls within fire spirits were excellent materials for artifact refining, and as a Tier Three Upper Grade Artifact Refiner, he naturally wouldn’t miss such good materials.

"What a pity that this Secret Realm only opens once every three hundred years. Even on the surface, there’s so much crimson sand, and with careful mining, there are surely abundant crimson spirit ores below.

The refined crimson sand is top-grade material for refining magical treasures."

Truly a pity!

Ultimately, Lin Chang’an could only shake his head, reluctantly heading forward.

...

"Since you want my Storage Bag, let’s see if your bite is hard enough!"

After dozens of fire spirits were eliminated and as this cultivator was greatly exhausted and injured, a robbery incited by greed occurred.

"I’ll drag you with me even if I die!"

"Dream on. I may not make it through this Five Elements Forbidden Land, but I’m not leaving empty-handed."

Pillaging and taking advantage of others amidst chaos began among the cultivators.

After all, those who came here had mostly prepared adequately and had abundant resources.

Hence, some cultivators wanted to take shortcuts by only preparing part of the necessary spiritual objects to enter the Secret Realm.

Then, entirely relying on robbery, they plundered fellow cultivators’ assets.

Additionally, there were those who, by mere chance and fortune, obtained a Secret Realm Fragment.

In short, all kinds of cultivators existed.

In the distant valley, Lin Chang’an concealed his form, watching the scene of a robbery from afar. His expression remained indifferent and unperturbed.

"Master, see how that person has started cleaning up the battlefield over there. Should I act like the praying mantis stalks the cicada while the Phoenix Cry Bird waits behind?"

The golden Phoenix Cry Bird on his shoulder, gazing excitedly at the distance, showed reckless abandon.

"Enough, there’s no need to stir up trouble."

Lin Chang’an immediately spotted the Phoenix Cry Bird’s greed for the cultivators’ Storage Bags and refused irritably.