Chapter 181 - 159: Metamorphosis Again, Bathed Fire Talent
Chapter 181: Chapter 159: Metamorphosis Again, Bathed Fire Talent
「That night.」
At Qingyuan Small Building.
Lin Changheng stood before his desk. The candlelight dwindled, casting his shadow on the window as the Sea of Consciousness Primordial Cauldron trembled gently.
[Fire-Tailed Golden Rat True Core: Supreme]
[Can be Refined into the Demon Beast Bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique: Limb Hardening]
"First I need to save my own life and stay alive. Only then can I pursue more! And only by staying alive can I make it to the very end!"
"Of course I’ll Refine it into myself!"
Although it felt a bit like he was straying into Body Refining, Lin Changheng wholeheartedly welcomed the chance to master a stronger life-saving ability!
The mysterious, adult-fist-sized True Core fell into his Divine Soul at his command, then entered his body.
This time, Lin Changheng used his Divine Sense to carefully observe the entire process.
He discovered that as the True Core fell into his Divine Soul, it truly did stir up a mysterious and almost imperceptible ripple.
It spread and rippled outwards, like concentric circles on water.
"This is..."
Then, Lin Changheng was suddenly startled. He had made a discovery.
This was the first time he had ever noticed anything like it!
He clearly perceived that this ripple moved with the True Core, slowly sweeping over and cleansing his Divine Soul.
Accompanied by a faint stimulus of Golden Sharp Qi, his Divine Soul seemed to be affected in some way. The effect was subtle, but it was real.
’No, it’s not just an effect,’ he thought. ’To be more precise, it’s a kind of nourishment!’
Lin Changheng’s shock gave way to joy. This was a positive influence, one that brought about a beneficial effect. "Nourishment" was indeed a more fitting word.
’A single instance of this "nourishment" might not feel like much, but what if it accumulates over a long period?’
’When I broke through the Divine Mountain, I was able to do it so easily. At first, I just thought it was because I had lived two lives and my Divine Soul was more polished. But now, it seems the Treasure Seeds, True Cores, and Dao Fruits produced by the Primordial Cauldron have also been playing a hidden role! One I was completely unaware of.’
The beauty of Divine Sense lay in this—its ability to investigate in minute detail, revealing everything.
Even an extremely subtle ripple could be detected! If not for this, Lin Changheng might have never discovered it.
...
A few breaths later, a sharp sense of discomfort suddenly appeared!
It shot through his body, its sharp edge exposed as it roamed wildly.
Wincing in pain, Lin Changheng quickly directed his Introspection downwards.
He saw a flash of golden light within his body, shining brightly, and the discomfort actually vanished just as quickly.
"Limb Hardening Demon Technique!"
Lin Changheng immediately activated it.
BOOM!
Golden light shone from within him again. Instantly, a surge of "Golden Sharp Qi"—similar in size to before but significantly improved in quality—coursed violently through his limbs.
The Limb Hardening Demon Technique was unleashed!
His skin changed in an instant. This time, however, it wasn’t the previous dark Profound Iron color, but was instead tinged with a hint of gold, like dark gold.
His bones also emitted a low hum, as if they were being reshaped by metal tempered a thousand times. His fingernails slowly extended, transforming into sharp golden blades. A light swipe of his fingertip produced a piercing sound as it tore through the air.
Lin Changheng looked at his reflection in the Copper Mirror, the corner of his mouth twitching.
In the Copper Mirror, the handsome, warm, and frequently smiling figure was nowhere to be seen. All that remained was an anthropomorphic Puppet with bestial features.
CLANG!
He infused his Upper Grade Flying Shuttle Magical Artifact with Magical Power and slashed down. A shower of sparks flew as the shuttle was directly repelled.
It couldn’t break through his defense.
’This Demon Technique alone can block an attack from an Upper Grade Magical Artifact.’
’But I wonder if it can block a slash from a Spiritual Artifact?’
Lin Changheng wanted to test it further, but he couldn’t.
Because he only had Upper Grade Magical Artifacts, not Spiritual Artifacts!
Magical Artifacts correspond to the Qi Cultivation realm and are Tier One.
Spiritual Artifacts correspond to the Foundation Establishment realm and are Tier Two.
He also couldn’t test just how powerful the combined effects of the Limb Hardening Demon Technique and the Fourth Layer of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood would be!
But this served as a reminder for Lin Changheng.
He still had far too few reliable methods at the Foundation Establishment or Tier Two level.
He had no Spiritual Artifacts, no Tier Two Magic, and he also needed to find a replacement Tier Two Technique.
There was no problem completing the later parts of the Night Illuminating Fire technique—his deductions were even as good as the original—but it was ultimately a Tier One Cultivation Technique. Even though it was Upper Grade, it still wasn’t Tier Two!
Lin Changheng had no intention of trying to force a deduction of a Tier Two follow-up. That would be tantamount to creating a whole new technique—a time-consuming, laborious, and clueless process, unlike his previous work of filling in the gaps, which had a structure to follow.
Finding another suitable Cultivation Technique was the right path.
After thinking like this for a moment, Lin Changheng suddenly smiled.
’In any case, my Lifespan is long, and I don’t go looking for trouble. I can just plan things out slowly. Why rush?’
In all these years, he had only managed to find sporadic moments to comprehend half of the Middle Grade Array Inheritance he had obtained from the Jin Family of Star Erosion Lake.
He could be considered an Entry Tier Array Master now.
As for the remaining half, he had been too busy before, so he planned to wait until after Foundation Establishment to continue his in-depth research.
At this thought, a smile appeared on Lin Changheng’s face. "This is the benefit of having a long Lifespan... I have enough time to be unhurried."
...
Lin Changheng’s thoughts slowly calmed. He gathered the remaining Profound Spirit Essence Blood in one place, reached his hand in, and began the Spirit Stealing process.
WHOOSH!
Immediately, the Primordial Cauldron trembled slightly, and a rosy light dispersed. At the third ring of the Primordial Cauldron, an illusory Red Treasure Seed appeared.
It then solidified at an extremely fast rate.
[Eclipse Crow Treasure Seed - Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]
[Spirit Stealing: 2/100]
[Utility: A Profound Spirit Demon Beast Bloodline, innately possessing both Gold and Fire attributes. It carries the Lifebound Talents of Swallowing Light, Bathed Fire, and Crying Soul. Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one can be chosen to be Refined into the body.]
...
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Eclipse Crow Treasure Seed·First Layer]
"What?"
Lin Changheng was stunned. He felt as if he had just seen something incredible.
Before he could think about it further, he saw the Red Treasure Seed in the Primordial Cauldron, which was just about to solidify, split into three illusory Treasure Seeds.
[You may choose one Demon Race Lifebound Talent to Refine into yourself: Swallowing Light, Bathed Fire, Crying Soul]