Chapter 130: Zhao Li’s Foundation Establishment
Chapter 130: Chapter 130: Zhao Li’s Foundation Establishment
’To continue successfully using the Demon Metamorphosis Technique, the Endless Wilderness and larger Immortal Cities are suitable destinations. But for achieving Foundation Establishment, an Immortal City offers better opportunities.’
’Mmm, I’ll handle my current affairs, then communicate with the Xu Family to try and bring things to a good temporary conclusion. Also, I must properly plan and prepare for where I’m going and what I’ll do. I absolutely cannot act on impulse...’
Lin Changheng was a cautious man; acting only after careful planning was key to his approach.
’Right, there’s also the batch of Elixirs I promised to refine for the Jin Family. I have to finish refining them and deliver them on time.’
Not long after that chat with Jin Geng, Jin Geng had relayed Lin Changheng’s thoughts to his clan.
It just goes to show how blunt Jin Geng is. He had unabashedly told Lin Changheng that the Jin Clan Elders’ initial plan was indeed to poach him. They had intended to sway him with a trove of benefits rich enough to make any Upper Grade Alchemist covetous, along with an Upper Grade array Inheritance.
In the end, Lin Changheng had anticipated their thoughts and methods, using Jin Geng as a mouthpiece to interrupt their momentum.
The final meeting turned into an agreement where Lin Changheng would refine a batch of special Upper Grade Elixirs for the Jin Family. The request was urgent, requiring delivery within a year.
The Jin Family would pay in Spirit Stones at a market price ten percent higher than that of Upper Grade Elixirs, while Lin Changheng would not take a cut from the finished Elixirs. In return, he would be gifted a Middle Grade Array Inheritance.
The level of the Array Inheritance was a direct downgrade from their initial offer.
Furthermore, Lin Changheng was required to make a Daoist Oath, ensuring that the Pill Formula for this Pill and the Middle Grade Array Inheritance would not be leaked. He was also forbidden from revealing that the Jin Family was having this Pill refined.
Lin Changheng had thought a lot about it at the time.
Because this course of action had truly surprised him.
A clan like the Jin Family, one of the Three Foundation Establishment Clans, surely had regular Upper Grade Alchemists they worked with, even if they didn’t have one as an Honored Guest Elder.
They might even have Tier Two Alchemists.
Yet now, they weren’t seeking them out, but were instead looking for "outside help." Lin Changheng was an Alchemist who was about as disconnected from their clan as one could be.
With only the connection through Jin Geng, he certainly wouldn’t attract too much attention.
’It’s most likely related to some kind of conflict or operation that requires secrecy...’
Lin Changheng had his suspicions. A major clan like the Jin Family was bound to have numerous spies and informants in their midst.
Once he had figured out the key points, Lin Changheng agreed without hesitation.
He was just refining Elixirs; what did it matter who he was doing business with? As long as the Jin Family kept quiet and he kept quiet, he would just focus on finishing the job. Afterward, he was planning to abandon his identity and slip away unnoticed anyway. No one would be able to find him.
Lin Changheng had also learned from the Jin Family that Array Inheritances of Middle Grade or higher were extremely rare on the market, even rarer than Middle Grade Alchemy Inheritances.
If the Jin Family hadn’t produced it, Alchemist Lin would have likely had to expend immense Heart Power and resources to obtain one.
To this, Lin Changheng merely smiled noncommittally. Even a seller praises their own wares. It was perfectly understandable for the Jin Family to talk up the value and rarity of their Middle Grade Array Inheritance.
Lin Changheng had long seen through this aspect of human nature.
Many arguments not involving personal gain were unnecessary. Getting red in the face with anger was not the way. Lin Changheng would simply smile faintly and say, "That is quite right," or "You’re right, Fellow Daoist."
The quantity of Elixirs this batch for the Jin Family required was quite large. It would take about three more months to refine them all, which could serve as a buffer period before his departure.
...
「On this day.」
During a break from Alchemy, Lin Changheng was submerged in a medicinal barrel, his lean, muscular upper body bare. Amidst the rising steam, he circulated the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood to continue tempering his physique.
He was nearly fifty-two years old, yet his body showed no signs of aging, his physical functions not a bit deteriorated.
Whether it was the well-defined lines of his eight-pack abs or the faint viridian glow hidden within his skin, anyone who saw him would mistake him for a young man in his early twenties.
WHOOSH!
The medicinal liquid in the barrel suddenly began to boil and churn, as if a flood dragon were thrashing about, stirring up wind and waves.
Something seemed to be brewing, accumulating.
Three breaths later, Lin Changheng’s eyes snapped open, two beams of viridian light bursting from his pupils. Dozens of azure-green, ring-like patterns spread out from the joints of his spine, slithering under his skin like living creatures.
CRACK—
The medicinal barrel shattered on cue. Amidst the spray of wood splinters and medicinal liquid, his skin took on an ironwood-like, gray-green sheen.
At the same time, he could feel the muscles and bones beneath his skin coiling like old vines, hiding an astonishing power.
He clenched his fist slightly, and a coiling energy was instantly generated.
He threw a punch through the air. Where the force of his fist landed, a nearby square table made of heavy wood instantly exploded into dust.
This heavy wood was extremely dense and hard, no different from ordinary metal or stone.
This also meant that the power in Lin Changheng’s fists could now shatter stone and crack steles!
’Skin like ironwood, muscles and bones like knotted vines... this is the sign of the Evergreen Body entering the Third Layer!’
’This is equivalent to the physical strength of a Tier One Late Stage Demon Beast! It corresponds to the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation in terms of Magical Power!’
’It was a bit later than I expected; Body Refining has its own bottlenecks, too! But thankfully, the breakthrough was successful. It will also have Utility for Foundation Establishment and Mountain Breaker!’
With a thought, his skin returned to normal, leaving only faint green marks that also quickly disappeared.
After the initial joy,
Lin Changheng looked at the mess all over the room and felt a headache coming on.
He hadn’t managed to restrain his power just now, which had resulted in such a scene.
Given his status, he could have had someone come to clean up. But his room contained many secrets, so outsiders were strictly forbidden. He had no choice but to do it himself.
After he finished tidying up, the moment Lin Changheng came downstairs, an attendant hurried over to greet him.
"Chief Lin, there’s a letter for you."
"Thank you."
Nodding slightly, Lin Changheng took it from the deeply respectful attendant’s hands.
"Not at all, not at all."
Although the attendant had long known that Chief Lin was kind, the thought that an Upper Grade Alchemist, so revered by the outside world, would treat him with such courtesy still filled him with irrepressible joy. He felt a cut above the rest.
He stepped to the side, and seeing that the simple Restriction on the seal was intact, he opened it. ’Huh, it’s not a letter from Feiyue, but from Zhao Li.’
In the next instant, Lin Changheng’s steps came to a sudden halt.
His eyes narrowed.
The first paragraph of the letter revealed a startling piece of information:
"Brother Lin, do not worry. Zhao Li has safely achieved Foundation Establishment."
Mo Zhaoli... had reached Foundation Establishment!
’How old is she?’
Reading on, he saw that Mo Zhaoli briefly described the events before and after her breakthrough.
It turned out that after they had last parted ways, she had begun taking on missions with a near-frenzied pace.
The dangers involved were not described, but Lin Changheng could vaguely sense them.
Finally, three years ago, with her extremely high merit points and the one thousand Spirit Stones she had borrowed from Lin Changheng to cover the shortfall, she had at last obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill bestowed by the Purple Extreme Sect.
But she hadn’t rushed to break through. Instead, she chose to enter a long seclusion to continue refining her Magical Power and her body.
Finally, a year ago, she broke through into the Foundation Establishment Stage!
After her breakthrough, she remained in seclusion for another year to solidify and stabilize her Cultivation Realm before finally emerging.
And the first thing she did was send letters to her grandfather and Lin Changheng.
At the same time, she was preparing for the sect’s promotion ceremony, her master’s celebration banquet, and various other arrangements.
She also specifically invited Lin Changheng to come to the Purple Extreme Sect in half a year to attend the ceremony.
Her words were sincere, earnestly hoping that Brother Lin would come.
Her grandfather would also be in attendance. Mo Zhaoli had already arranged for someone to pick him up, and he had likely already arrived at the Xu Family’s residence.
’Oh? Attend the ceremony?’
Reading this, a thought stirred in Lin Changheng’s mind.