Eternal Life: I Can Harvest Demon Beast Talents

Chapter 192: Chapter 164: Tier Two Upper Grade, the Huang Family’s Sincerity

This saved Lin Changheng the trouble of finding a place to sell them. Besides, secondhand elixirs never fetched a good price.

He might as well let the turtle deal with them.

「One hour later.」

The water in the bath barrel was clear again. Lin Changheng rose, his body refining session with the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood complete.

The Body Refining Spiritual Materials he used were now all Tier Two.

According to the Supporting Body Refining Method he had obtained, while the Tier Two Spirit Wood he used—the Ta Long Wood—remained unchanged, he had upgraded the Tier One Lusong Spirit Liquid to a Tier Two Spirit Liquid called Profound Wood Vine Dew.

Fortunately, these items weren’t rare in the Immortal City and were easy to acquire.

But Lin Changheng could clearly feel that his progress with the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood had slowed considerably since reaching the Fourth Layer.

It would require long-term refinement, or a corresponding Body Refining Treasure, to speed things up.

Lin Changheng wasn’t worried about it. ’My lifespan is long; I can afford to take my time.’

He was willing to buy any suitable Body Refining Treasures with Spirit Stones; that wasn’t an issue. But he would absolutely not take risks just for a bit more progress.

...

「Half a month later.」

Chef Zeng came to see him again, and with him was a remarkably beautiful and mature woman.

The woman looked to be in her early thirties. She wore a pale yellow Immortal Skirt that elegantly traced the lines of her full, curvaceous figure.

Most striking was her oval face. Her skin was as fair and translucent as a freshly peeled lychee, and a beauty mark like a teardrop at the corner of her eye added a touch of enchanting allure.

Even though he didn’t recognize her, she looked vaguely familiar.

"And this is?"

Lin Changheng welcomed them inside.

Chef Zeng smiled. "Younger Brother Lin, allow me to introduce you. This is my wife, Huang Linglin. You can address her as Fellow Daoist Huang."

"Ah, I see. No wonder you looked somewhat familiar... A pleasure to meet you, Fellow Daoist Huang."

Lin Changheng smiled in sudden understanding and saluted with cupped fists. ’It seems she’s also skilled in preserving her youth,’ he thought. ’To be married to Chef Zeng, there’s no way she’s only in her early thirties.’

"It is a pleasure to meet you, Alchemist Lin," Huang Linglin said, covering her mouth with a light laugh. "However, you’ve met my younger sister before, so it’s only natural that you’d find me a bit familiar."

Her entire being radiated a ripe, seductive charm.

Lin Changheng invited them to sit. After a round of pleasantries, he took the initiative and asked the purpose of their visit.

Chef Zeng didn’t speak, merely glancing toward his wife.

Lin Changheng saw the gesture and knew at once. ’So, she’s another persuader.’

He simply maintained his smile, curious to see what new approach they would take and what price they were prepared to offer.

Sure enough, the woman pursed her red lips and began her recruitment pitch.

Lin Changheng blinked. ’Just as I expected.’ He was about to give his usual response.

After politely refusing so many people so many times, he had developed a standard script for it.

"Alchemist Lin, don’t be so quick to refuse. Please, hear the sincere offer I’ve come with," Huang Linglin said, her face still wreathed in smiles, her gaze captivating as she spoke at a leisurely pace.

"Oh? In that case, I’m all ears."

Lin Changheng glanced at Chef Zeng, who was feigning meditation, completely silent. A thought flickered through Lin’s mind, and he too said nothing more.

"After you refused last time, Alchemist Lin, my husband came home and told me all about it. We felt it was a great shame. So, I went to our ancestor and reported the matter, and we’ve decided to extend you an invitation with our utmost sincerity."

Huang Linglin delivered these words with a smile.

Lin Changheng merely smiled back.

’The reason I gave last time was just the most polite excuse,’ he thought. ’I doubt she can really say anything to change my mind.’

"There are three main points."

Huang Linglin didn’t beat around the bush, getting straight to the terms.

"First, Alchemist Lin becomes a Tributor for our family branch. You don’t need to spend time with the clan, you won’t be under any constraints, and you won’t have to complete any missions. All we ask is that you guarantee what you previously told my husband: ’The Huang Family will have priority when you perform alchemy.’"

At these words, a flicker of astonishment crossed Lin Changheng’s eyes.

This completely dismantled his previous reason for refusal, effectively making the Tributor position one with no responsibilities.

And he had been sincere in his promise to Chef Zeng; it was something he could definitely uphold.

’This is basically just lending them my name?’

"Interesting."

Lin Changheng smiled. "Please continue, Fellow Daoist Huang."

Huang Linglin wore a knowing smile, as if to say, ’See? I wasn’t lying, was I?’ Then she continued:

"Second, when news spreads that Alchemist Lin is a Tributor for our Spirit Dome Mountain’s Huang Family, you must not deny it publicly. In return, our family branch will provide the corresponding resources due a Tributor, in full, according to the standard rates."

Lin Changheng immediately understood this was a supplementary condition to the first one.

One more or less title made little difference to him, and he saw no reason to deny it.

The only risk would be if the Spirit Dome Mountain Huang Family dared to rebel against the Extreme South Palace.

But how could the Huang Family, which didn’t even have a Fake Core cultivator, dare to challenge the Extreme South Palace, a power presided over by a Nascent Soul True Monarch? Did they want their entire family annihilated?

Therefore, such a possibility was virtually nonexistent.

Even if the current Leader of the Huang Family dared to think it, his own people would band together to have him immediately expelled, disowned, and declared a traitor to sever all ties.

...

At this point, Lin Changheng was curious about the third condition.

But only curious.

Huang Linglin noticed the shift in Lin Changheng’s attitude. Knowing this might be her last chance, her expression turned solemn as she spoke with gravity:

"Third, our branch’s ancestor has promised that you, Alchemist Lin, may make one request. As long as it is within reasonable, logical bounds, it will be granted as a welcoming gift for joining our Huang Family!"

At these words, Lin Changheng’s expression finally changed.

This was equivalent to handing him a blank check, allowing him to fill in whatever he wanted, within reason.

However, the ancestor’s definition of ’reasonable’ was likely limited to the needs of a Tier Two Alchemist or a Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation Practitioner.

And what could a Tier Two Alchemist want? Nothing more than a Tier Two Alchemy Inheritance, or perhaps a Spiritual Artifact or Magical Artifact in the form of an Alchemy Furnace.

As for a Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation practitioner, their needs would be materials for breaking through to Foundation Establishment, or an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact...

However, things like the Foundation Establishment Pill, Foundation Establishment Spiritual Objects, or the main medicine for a Foundation Establishment Pill would be outside the scope. Those were strategic resources for a family, not to be given away lightly.

Besides, given Lin Changheng’s character and conduct, the Huang Family probably assumed he would be too embarrassed to ask for such things.

"So, what do you think, Alchemist Lin?"

Huang Linglin registered Lin Changheng’s reaction and felt a stir of delight in her heart.

Lin Changheng fell silent, lost in deep thought.

After a long moment, he finally asked, "May I ask, what is the Cultivation level of your family branch’s ancestor?"

Huang Linglin exchanged a glance with her husband, whose expression was also changing, before replying, "Late Stage Foundation Establishment."

"Late Stage Foundation Establishment?"

Lin Changheng was starting to feel genuinely tempted.

What he currently needed most was a Tier Two Fire Element Technique, specifically a Tier Two Upper Grade Technique! Everything else could wait.

That was why he had asked.

In terms of value, a Tier Two Fire Technique wasn’t that far off from a Tier Two Alchemy Inheritance; in fact, the latter might be even more valuable.

Therefore, from a purely value-based perspective, a request for a Tier Two Upper Grade Fire Element Technique was potentially acceptable.

And since Tier Two Upper Grade Techniques were currently hard to come by, Lin Changheng had to focus his attention on this opportunity.

After a long and careful deliberation, he suddenly broke into a smile.

"Would a Tier Two Fire Technique be on the table?"

Huang Linglin was taken aback. She didn’t understand why Lin Changheng would choose that—wasn’t he only at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation? Still, after a moment’s thought, she decided it was an acceptable request and was about to smile and agree.

The ancestor of her branch had granted her significant authority; as long as the request wasn’t too outrageous, she could approve it on the spot.

But Lin Changheng’s next few words caught the reply in her throat.

"...Preferably Tier Two Upper Grade."

...

Chef Zeng and Huang Linglin left, taking with them the memory of Lin Changheng’s final, inscrutable smile, and a host of questions in their minds.

They hadn’t refused. Instead, they asked Lin Changheng to wait while they consulted their ancestor, after which they would return with a reply.

Lin Changheng naturally agreed, seeing the two off with a beaming smile.

In less than three days, word came back...