Chapter 133: Before the Purple Extreme
Chapter 133: Chapter 133: Before the Purple Extreme
Patriarch Xu was playing the sentiment card. He had switched from the formal title of "Chief Lin" to the more personal "Changheng" and brought up old times, reminding Lin Changheng that their past friendship should not be forgotten.
He had clearly accepted that Lin Changheng was going to leave and was simply reinforcing their old bond. Since he couldn’t change the outcome, it was better to part amicably and leave a good final impression.
This was the smart thing to do, the most beneficial course of action. It preserved a measure of goodwill for the future.
However, Xu Xujun’s question was rather thought-provoking. He seemed reluctant to accept the situation and was still using the Ink Master’s whereabouts to probe the nature of Lin Changheng’s relationship with Mo Zhaoli.
He was probing indirectly.
If Lin Changheng had been unaware that the Ink Master would be present for Zhao Li’s Foundation Establishment, it would have suggested their relationship wasn’t as solid as it seemed—perhaps even a deliberately crafted illusion. That could have opened the door for unexpected complications.
Lin Changheng noticed this. He not only answered accurately, referring to her as "Sister Zhao Li" and leveraging her name, but was even prepared to produce a letter as evidence if things went sideways. He wanted to quash any unrealistic ideas certain members of the upper echelon might have.
Sure enough, the matter was concluded perfectly. Even Xu Xujun, who had been coolly indifferent, revealed a warm smile.
It’s often said, "It’s not what you know, but who you know," and "It’s good to have powerful friends." The Cultivation Realm was no exception. This time, he seemed to have both.
...
After seeing off the Xu Family’s upper echelon, Lin Changheng had no intention of returning to the family’s residence. Under the pretext of "waiting for someone from the Xu Family to take over the Pill Shop," he remained right where he was.
Before the person sent from the family to take over the shop arrived, someone else came to see Lin Changheng—Tantai Feiyue.
"Brother Lin..."
A fragrant scent drifted near. Tantai Feiyue wore a crimson gown, its hem embroidered with dark gold phoenix patterns that shimmered in the sunlight. She stood a step away, her fingertips curled slightly. Her expression was hard to read, but her reluctance to see him go was plain as day.
Lin Changheng looked up, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "Feiyue, you’re here."
"Let’s talk in the reception room upstairs."
The Pill Shop was too crowded, with too many prying eyes and ears. Lin Changheng led her upstairs without showing excessive eagerness.
Tantai Feiyue nodded slightly and followed him.
The moment they reached the fourth floor, she threw herself into his arms, a fragrant whirlwind, unable to hold back any longer.
’Lin Changheng sighed inwardly.’ He could only pull the Commandery Princess tightly into his arms, trying to soothe her trembling shoulders with the warmth of his embrace.
"Brother Lin..."
The name "Brother Lin" echoed by his ear again, like a fragment from a dream. Despite her immense reluctance, Tantai Feiyue ultimately couldn’t bring herself to ask him to stay.
She was worried that saying anything would influence his decision and put her Brother Lin in a difficult position.
But the more well-behaved and considerate she was, the more his heart ached for her.
The longer they embraced, the more an irrepressible emotion began to build. Just as life finds a way, so too do feelings find their own release.
Soon, a crimson gown, a silk bodice, damask trousers, white silk stockings, and gold-threaded cloud-patterned shoes lay scattered on the floor.
Within the warm chamber, there was only a cascade of dark hair and the motion of pale limbs.
A flicker of complex emotion crossed Lin Changheng’s mind, but it was quickly replaced by resolve. He simply moved with fierce intensity.
’He had to leave her with one last, beautiful memory.’
After an unknown amount of time, the storm subsided. The Commandery Princess held him tightly, yet that final, life-giving gift was withheld.
Her heart couldn’t help but feel a pang of melancholy.
But she didn’t know that there were two main reasons for Lin Changheng’s resolve.
First, children are typically seen as a continuation of one’s life and bloodline, heirs who can carry on a cultivator’s unfulfilled ambitions and inherit all their resources.
However, this was a path for cultivators whose Immortal Path had been cut short, whether at the Qi Cultivation, Foundation Establishment, or Core Formation realm.
Once they could no longer advance, they would naturally begin to consider this option.
But for someone with a promising future on the Immortal Dao, a child would undoubtedly be a tie, a hindrance, even a burden that would impede their progress. Thus, they would not choose to have one.
Lin Changheng shared this conviction.
Second, a bloodline is a vulnerability. If he were to provoke a powerful enemy in the future, using his children to threaten him would be a simple, crude tactic.
In this strange and unpredictable Cultivation Realm, blood was far more than a bond of kinship; it could be a fatal chain. Countless strange and unfathomable Secret Techniques were rumored to exist. Some could use a trace of blood to track a soul across the void, making it impossible to escape the resonance and locating power of one’s lineage, even across thousands of miles.
Others could use blood as a medium to cast a vicious curse from a distance—silent, invisible, and impossible to guard against. A light curse might damage one’s Tao Foundation; a heavy one could kill instantly, annihilating body and Divine Soul.
This bloodline, which bestowed life, could sometimes also lead to death.
Either reason alone might not have been enough to make Lin Changheng so determined, but the two combined made having a child an absolute impossibility.
He would only consider it if, one day, he could reach the apex of this realm, with all other cultivators bowing in submission.
...
"If we both cultivate diligently, there may yet come a day when we can walk this path together."
Unwilling to let the mood grow too somber, Lin Changheng painted a hopeful picture for the future.
"Alright. Then it’s a promise."
Tantai Feiyue was also a person of firm will, with a heart dedicated to the Dao. But she was a woman, after all, and could not completely avoid the influence of her emotions or be as resolutely detached as a man.
But she quickly regained her composure, nodding with determination in her eyes.
"Don’t you dare look."
She then got up to dress. Amidst a rustle of fabric, she noticed Lin Changheng staring intently and shot him a playful glare.
’Lin Changheng shook his head with a smile. He wanted to say, ’Is there any part of you I haven’t seen? Any place I haven’t intimately explored?’ But he obediently turned away and poured tea for them both.’
They talked for a long time before Tantai Feiyue reached to her waist, unfastened a Spirit Beast Bag, and handed it to Lin Changheng.
Inside, of course, was the Black Armored Earth Turtle.
"I’m going to have to leave Xiaohai so suddenly... I’m really not used to the idea."
Tantai Feiyue tucked away a stray lock of hair that had been mussed from their earlier passion. She sounded wistful, but she didn’t tell him to take good care of it. After all, Lin Changheng was its true master; of course he wouldn’t neglect it.
Lin Changheng didn’t know how to respond, so he released the Black Armored Earth Turtle, now slightly larger than a millstone, and played with it for a moment.
The turtle had some Spiritual Wisdom and would often roll over or perform other silly tricks, which drew frequent laughter from them both.
Afterward, they paid the turtle no more mind and returned to the table. They both reached into their Storage Bags at the same time.
And both placed something on the tabletop.
They looked at each other and smiled, surprised at their shared impulse.
Lin Changheng went first, opening his wooden box to reveal rows of White Porcelain Bottles—Pill Bottles.
Inside were Upper Grade Wood Element Pills, many of them even reaching Masterpiece Quality.
They were called Dew Gathering Spirit Pills, and they could aid in the cultivation of a Wood Element Technique.
They were suitable for assisting the cultivation of Late Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivators.
He had gotten the Pill Formula from a Late Stage Qi Cultivation Cultivator who had come seeking pills. The effects were good and the Medicinal Materials weren’t difficult to gather, so he had refined a large batch in his spare time.
Lin Changheng was not a stingy person; he valued his relationships. When he had the means, it felt only right and natural to support a female cultivator with whom he’d shared a connection with a few resources.
At that moment, Tantai Feiyue also opened a flat wooden box of her own, revealing three stacks of Talismans.
’Middle Grade Talismans are useless to me, though...’
Lin Changheng had expected as much, but it’s the thought that counts. He certainly wouldn’t be so cruel as to refuse.
But the Spiritual Light that emanated from the Talismans made his pupils contract.
"Are these... Upper Grade Talismans?"
A glint flashed in his eyes as he quickly confirmed his suspicion.
This meant that Tantai Feiyue had recently become a Tier One Upper Grade Talisman Master.
Although her breakthrough came much later than his own entry into the Upper Grade of the Alchemy Dao, she had achieved it without the aid of an Origin Treasure Seed. That was a truly remarkable feat.
’Feiyue’s talent for the Talisman Dao is astonishing. The Xu Family really made the right move with her.’
Lin Changheng thought to himself.
’When fortune smiles, the world smiles with you. It must be something like that.’
With the support of her Upper Grade Talisman Dao, Tantai Feiyue’s chances of reaching Foundation Establishment would increase significantly.
"Congratulations on your progress in the Talisman Dao, Feiyue."
"I’m just trying to keep up with you, Brother Lin."
Tantai Feiyue shook her head, her expression not overly joyous. Still, her progress in the Talisman Dao had given her a renewed sense of confidence.
It was a fresh source of motivation to keep her going.
"You must take these, Brother Lin. It’s always good to have some Talismans on hand when you’re out in the world."
Tantai Feiyue’s gaze was gentle as she watched Lin Changheng.
"Alright."
Lin Changheng didn’t refuse.
After spending so much intimate time with her, he had come to understand Tantai Feiyue’s character. She was an independent woman who disliked being reliant on others. Outside of their physical relationship, she was unwilling to take advantage of him.
All in all, Lin Changheng wasn’t even sure which of them had benefited more from their arrangement.
But considering the scarcity and price of the Elixirs he provided, his contribution was naturally worth more.
...
「Three days later.」
The Xu Family sent a Middle Grade Elder Alchemist to take over.
He had a drinker’s nose and was someone Lin Changheng knew.
It was none other than the Pill Master who had once taken the contract for disposing of Middle Grade Wasted Pills. He’d tried to pull a fast one on Lin Changheng back then, and had later acted as clingy as a piece of candy, pretending they were old friends.
Unfortunately, he was later transferred to the Cyan Spirit District and had to give up the task of processing the Wasted Pills. The Fire-tailed Golden Rat Treasure Seed had only reached the Third Layer before its progress halted. Rumor had it that the seed had eventually found its way back into this man’s hands.
Lin Changheng had wanted to take it back to absorb its power the last time he returned to the family, but he’d given up on the idea after hearing that news.
Now, faced with the man’s cloying enthusiasm, Lin Changheng quickly completed the handover and left the shop.
As for Xu Fugui, there was no sign of him.
He was with his father-in-law on the front lines, in a standoff with the Qiu Family, and could not easily withdraw.
There was nothing to be done.
...
「In the Immortal Inn.」
After a proper farewell with Tantai Feiyue, while the exhausted Commandery Princess was still deep in sleep, Lin Changheng quietly dressed and departed.
He didn’t own a Dharma Ship and had to travel by Cyan Flood Dragon Horse, which meant he needed to set out a month in advance to make his appointment on time.
As Lin Changheng walked through the streets of the Marketplace, he suddenly felt a prickling sensation and looked back toward the Immortal Inn. A window on an upper floor, previously shut tight, had been pushed open. A familiar, beautiful face was leaning against the frame, watching his departure in a daze.
Their eyes met.
From a distance, Lin Changheng clasped his hands in a farewell salute.
The woman in the window returned a deep curtsy.
Then, without hesitation, the male cultivator turned and walked away, his green-robed figure gradually vanishing into the morning mist.
...
The journey from the Cyan Spirit District to the Purple Extreme Sect was roughly three thousand li. It was Lin Changheng’s first time traveling so far, so he wasn’t in a great rush. He adjusted his posture slightly and spurred his horse onward.
He took in the sights as he traveled, feeling a bit like a tourist enjoying the mountains and rivers.
It was a chance to appreciate the mystical landscapes of the Cultivation Realm, the likes of which he had never seen in his past life. Their majestic and perilous beauty was beyond compare.
The recent period of minor expansion was now drawing to a close. The various powers were no longer holding back their influence and were gradually opening up again, and the ensuing chaos had been suppressed.
Therefore, he didn’t run into any clueless troublemakers along the way.
「Twenty-five days later.」
"I’m here."
Lin Changheng’s horse was struggling to press on. He looked up, and the sight before him was staggering.