Eternal Life: I Can Harvest Demon Beast Talents

Chapter 198: Chapter 167: Revisiting an Old Place, The Foundation for Foundation Establishment

"Only by advancing on the Great Dao can one attain true freedom."

Before the words had even faded, his figure transformed into a streak of light, boarding the Dharma Ship and vanishing beyond the heavens.

...

In less than two hours, the Black Water River appeared before him.

Lin Changheng’s Dharma Ship came roaring to a halt on the near bank.

On the other side of the river, a spiritual light faintly shimmered. It was an activated Tier Two Grand Array.

Just over a decade ago, this had only been a Tier One Grand Array.

He had no intention of recklessly charging in.

The Ferryman was napping on his boat when the sound of a Flying Ship tearing through the air startled him. He immediately rubbed his eyes and looked over.

"Fellow Daoist, is it possible you no longer recognize me?"

Lin Changheng put away his Dharma Ship and stepped forward. Seeing a familiar face, he said with a smile.

"You are..."

The Ferryman was just over forty, with a mediocre Cultivation, but his memory was sharp. His eyes widened in recognition as he quickly exclaimed, "Chief Lin? Alchemist Lin?"

"That’s right. It seems I haven’t changed much."

Lin Changheng smiled. "I’d like to cross the river to visit the family. Do I need to be announced?"

He had been away from the Xu Family for many years, after all. He was prepared for the possibility of needing to be announced and would have no complaints. But if that were the case, it would also mean the bond of goodwill from the past would be severed.

"How could that be? The higher-ups in the family have long said that the Xu Family will always be Chief Lin’s home, and its gates will always be wide open for him!"

The Ferryman immediately refuted the idea, his words taking Lin Changheng by surprise.

"In that case, I’ll trouble you to take me across the river, Fellow Daoist."

Lin Changheng remained noncommittal and stepped onto the boat.

"Right away!"

The Ferryman replied with a smile and immediately propelled the boat forward.

Lin Changheng gazed around, seemingly admiring the river scenery, but he casually glanced back at a certain spot in the deep, dark woods on the shore—a perfect place for someone to hide.

Then, as if he hadn’t noticed a thing, he resumed his idle chat with the Ferryman, his expression unchanged.

Soon, they crossed the Black Water River. Lin Changheng began to stroll leisurely along the riverbank toward the heart of the Xu Family’s territory.

On one hand, it was a chance to revisit old sights. On the other, it gave the Ferryman time to notify the Xu Family’s higher-ups and for them to prepare a response.

Sure enough, after Lin Changheng’s figure had receded into the distance, the Ferryman immediately tossed out a Communication Jade Talisman, which shot off with a WHOOSH toward the Hidden Peak Dojo, the core of the Xu Family’s domain.

This man was both a Ferryman and a Gatekeeper, possessing the authority to report directly to the highest powers.

...

Lin Changheng was extremely cautious. Now that Tantai Feiyue was living at the Hidden Peak Dojo, it wouldn’t be proper for him to go there directly, so he first headed toward the Guanxia Daoist School, where he used to live, which was not a core, secret area.

Soon, he arrived before his old courtyard.

"Hm?"

Lin Changheng sensed something was off. His Divine Sense immediately swept inside. Just as he suspected, no new occupants were in the courtyard. Instead, it was swept spotlessly clean, and the furnishings were exactly as they had been when he lived there, unchanged in the slightest.

Even the mud pit dug in the inner courtyard for the Black Armored Earth Turtle was still there. It was even filled with water to keep it moist.

’They actually kept this courtyard for me?’

Lin Changheng, who had not been notified of this, couldn’t help but smile as memories of the past flooded his mind. ’The Xu Family is truly thoughtful.’

Judge by actions, not intentions. If you judge by intentions, no one is perfect.

Regardless of the Xu Family’s motives or how little it cost them, their consistent upkeep over the past decade had earned Lin Changheng’s approval.

’If the Xu Family runs into trouble in the future, I might really have to lend them a hand...’

"SWOOSH! SWOOSH! SWOOSH!"

Before long, three whooshes of air-tearing sound came from outside the courtyard.

A KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK followed.

"The three of you, please come in."

Lin Changheng was at the stone table, having just brewed tea and poured it into four cups.

He tilted his head with a smile and watched as a Female Cultivator in a palace gown pushed the door open, leading the way. She was stunningly beautiful, with exquisitely styled hair and skin fairer than frost or snow. Her pretty face radiated deep joy and an unmistakable, intense longing.

Who else could it be but Tantai Feiyue?

Behind her were a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and an old man with completely white hair and beard.

They were none other than Xu Xujun and... the Patriarch of the Xu Family, Xu Xuhe.

Xu Xujun’s appearance hadn’t changed much. His aura was slightly stronger; he had progressed quite far in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment, and he seemed to be at about the Second Layer Foundation Establishment.

A faint pressure unique to Foundation Establishment radiated from him; he was no longer the novice he had been right after his breakthrough.

Xu Xuhe, on the other hand, had aged drastically. Back then, he was at the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation, yet he gave up a readily attainable chance at Foundation Establishment—a Foundation Establishment Pill and a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object—to Xu Xujun, who had a better chance of success. In doing so, he missed his one and only chance in this life to reach Foundation Establishment.

The family had achieved "Foundation Establishment" in a sense, but he would never have another chance.

Without reaching Foundation Establishment, one ages rapidly after sixty. Xu Xuhe was now over eighty years old, and his decrepit state was likely due to external factors as well.

Steering a family with shallow roots, surrounded by hungry wolves, was no easy task. It had completely drained his Heart Power.

This all took more time to describe than it did for Lin Changheng to take in at a glance. He rose and nodded to the two men, but his gaze remained fixed on the Commandery Princess before him.

His smile was warm, his gaze gentle.

The two Xu Family Cultivators, following behind Tantai Feiyue, immediately clasped their hands and returned the greeting. They both sensed the vast, restrained aura emanating from Lin Changheng. ’He really is in the Foundation Establishment Stage!’

They exchanged a look, understanding and astonishment flashing in their eyes, and couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

"HISS..."

’A Tier Two Alchemist who has now reached Foundation Establishment... his potential is terrifying!’

’We must stay on good terms with him!’

’Thankfully, when Lin Changheng left, we didn’t burn any bridges. We parted on good terms and preserved our friendship...’

A trace of relief rose in both their hearts...

...

"Brother Lin, I hope you’ve been well."

Tantai Feiyue pressed her red lips together, her pearly teeth biting down gently, and called out his name in a low voice.

"Feiyue."

Lin Changheng, for his part, had nothing to hesitate about. He smiled and opened his arms.

The next instant, a fragrant scent washed over him, and a long-missed, delicate body slid into his embrace, bringing a warmth that was familiar yet distant in his memory.

He wrapped his large hands around her, holding her tight.

By now, the two from the Xu Family had tactfully taken their leave, and the main door was closed.

They didn’t wish to intrude.

Tantai Feiyue buried her face in Lin Changheng’s chest, her fingertips tightly clutching his lapels. Her voice trembled slightly, "You’re finally back..."

Lin Changheng looked down, his chin gently brushing against her soft hair, and chuckled. "What’s this? Did you miss me?"

The Commandery Princess looked up, her eyes slightly red. "I did miss you. I was also afraid I would never see you again, and even more afraid that... you had forgotten me."

Lin Changheng let out a soft breath. The pad of his finger brushed away the moisture at the corner of her eye. His voice was deep. "I could never forget."

"That’s good, then."

After they held each other for a long time, Lin Changheng brought up serious matters, asking about Tantai Feiyue’s preparations and her current state.

"What?"

Lin Changheng was taken aback when he saw Tantai Feiyue simply looking at him with her beautiful, sparkling eyes, showing no intention of answering.

"Are you in such a hurry to talk business?"

But Tantai Feiyue just gave a dazzling smile. Her pair of snow-white, slender arms wrapped directly around Lin Changheng’s neck. Her lovely face drew infinitely closer, growing larger in his pupils, and her red lips pressed against his.

Lin Changheng was no block of wood. How could he not understand her meaning?

Over the past ten years, although he had grown older, his vital essence was full and his Qi and Blood were vigorous. His body was in even better condition than that of a young Cultivator of eighteen or nineteen.

Therefore, it was inevitable that he would feel desire.

In this regard, he maintained his integrity, not even sparing a glance for the Red Building Fairies of the Outer World. But when the urges were difficult to relieve, he wouldn’t forcibly suppress them. Instead, he would circulate his Cultivation Technique to dissolve them.

A balance of tension and relaxation is the Righteous Dao.

And now, it was a moment for great relaxation!

"Mmph..."

Holding the warm, delicate body in his arms with one hand, he strode towards the inner room. At the same time, Lin Changheng flicked his sleeve, and one Array Flag after another flew out like swimming fish. Under the control of his Divine Sense, they planted themselves in various corners of the courtyard.

BANG! The room door slammed shut.

Simultaneously, with a HUM, a thin layer of pale, misty qi rose up outside, like a hemispherical shield of light, enveloping the entire courtyard.

A Tier Two Lower Grade Array, the Flowing Clouds Covering Moon Formation!

Inside the room, a new candle flickered, casting their elongated shadows, which overlapped on the carved screen.

Outside the window, the wind rustled through the bamboo grove, the SHUSHING sound like whispers.

On and on it went, without end.

...

「Three hours later.」

Untied gowns and sashes were scattered all over the floor. On the messy bed, Princess Tantai lay sprawled on Lin Changheng’s chest, the corners of her eyes still flushed with a rosy hue, fast asleep.

Lin Changheng’s eyes were closed, a contented smile still playing on his lips. His palm stroked her smooth back intermittently, but his Magical Power had already entered her body to investigate.

He was checking the foundations she had for Foundation Establishment.

Soon, his brows furrowed.