Chapter 201 - 169: A Gift from the Xu Family, Two Types of Essence Blood
Chapter 201: Chapter 169: A Gift from the Xu Family, Two Types of Essence Blood
In the pavilion.
Lin Changheng watched as the two core decision-makers of the Xu Family were lost in thought. He offered no further explanation. Instead, he smiled faintly and mentioned the feeling of being spied on he’d had by the riverbank the day before.
"Hm? What?"
Xu Xuhe’s expression changed instantly.
Xu Xujun also looked grim. "Mr. Lin would certainly not be mistaken in his senses. That prying gaze most likely... came from that old codger from the Qiu Family."
"When I engaged in Magical Combat with him before, I sensed a madness deep in his bones, as if he wanted to drag me down with him. Combined with this new information, it’s highly likely his time is short. He might be planning to attack an important figure in my family, or even drag me to death with him..."
Hearing Xu Xujun’s speculation, Lin Changheng naturally didn’t object or refute it. He simply nodded thoughtfully.
He was only providing information. He had no intention of getting involved in the actual judgment or decision-making.
"Then we really must be careful. We’ll pass this through the upper echelons and make arrangements, but we won’t reveal the full truth to the rest of the family."
Xu Xuhe nodded, offering a preliminary plan without trying to hide it from Lin Changheng.
Unexpectedly, Xu Xujun said thoughtfully, "If we could lure him out and kill him, it would solve the problem once and for all."
After speaking, his gaze slid toward Lin Changheng.
Then, Xu Xuhe also looked over with an expectant gaze.
"I wonder if Mr. Lin..."
’They want to drag me into this?’
Lin Changheng knew exactly what their looks meant. He shook his head directly, cutting Xu Xuhe off. "I am not skilled in Magical Combat, nor do I have any intention of joining such clan disputes. I must ask you both not to bring it up again."
With his cautious nature, it wouldn’t have mattered who asked—the answer would have been the same.
"Sigh... Very well."
Xu Xuhe was instantly disappointed. This was indeed a great opportunity. If two Foundation Establishment Cultivators worked together to kill that beast, not only would it eliminate the threat of assassination against their key members, but the Qiu Family would also be powerless to resist and would be swallowed by the Xu Family.
Unfortunately, Lin Changheng had cut him off before he could even speak or mention any terms, clearly unwilling to give him any chance at all. Xu Xuhe didn’t dare to persuade him further or insist.
With the matter concluded, Lin Changheng had no intention of staying longer and rose to take his leave.
"Don’t be in such a hurry, Mr. Lin. We’ve also prepared two gifts especially for you."
Xu Xujun noticed this and quickly spoke up.
But Lin Changheng looked completely unmoved, shaking his head. "I cannot accept a reward without merit. I would feel undeserving of an unearned gift."
After all, there’s no such thing as a free lunch. Lin Changheng simply refused to be tempted.
"It’s no trouble, Mr. Lin, you needn’t worry. These two gifts are to celebrate your breakthrough to Tier Two in the Alchemy Dao and your advancement to Foundation Establishment in your Cultivation. There is no other motive."
Xu Xuhe added, stroking his beard as he explained.
"We truly have no ulterior motives, please rest assured, Mr. Lin. As for whether you’ll accept, why not take a look first before deciding?"
Xu Xujun added.
Seeing their confident expressions, a thought crossed Lin Changheng’s mind. ’They seem certain that I’ll be interested in these two gifts.’
"Then I shall take a look."
Lin Changheng quickly agreed. After all, just looking wouldn’t cost him anything, and he was a little curious.
CLAP! CLAP!
Xu Xujun raised his hands and clapped, the crisp sound traveling a great distance.
A short while later, Lin Changheng saw someone approaching from the far end of the long corridor. Sweeping his Divine Sense over, he found the newcomer was an old man.
It was none other than Xu Qianyan.
In his hands, he held a rather large, perfectly square Jade Box.
"Elder Lin."
Xu Qianyan approached, gently set down the Jade Box, then bowed and clasped his hands in a salute to Lin Changheng.
"Chief Xu, why the formality?"
Lin Changheng was surprised. He raised a hand and, with a gesture through the air, straightened the man’s posture.
Lin Changheng hadn’t interacted much with this Chief Alchemist of the Xu Family, but this was the man who had presided over every one of his Alchemy Dao promotion assessments within the family. Back then, he had to bow respectfully and address him as "Chief."
He had a decent impression of him.
But who could have predicted back then that their situations would be so completely reversed now?
"In the way of the Pill, mastery makes the master. Now that Mr. Lin’s Alchemy Dao has surpassed my own, it is only natural for this old man to address you as Elder."
Xu Qianyan said in a heavy voice, firm in his conviction. He felt no shame in bowing to someone who was once his junior.
Lin Changheng shook his head slightly but said no more.
"Mr. Lin, please take a look."
Xu Xujun stepped forward personally and opened the lid of the Jade Box.
Lin Changheng’s curious gaze also fell upon it, wanting to see what gave them such confidence.
The next moment, however, he froze.
Inside, it was packed to the brim with Demon Beast Essence Blood.
The ones on the top layer were all an earthy yellow color.
It was a sight Lin Changheng was extremely familiar with—the Essence Blood of the Mountain-moving Ape.
Instead of showing delight, Lin Changheng quickly averted his gaze. He tapped his fingers on the armrest of his chair and asked coolly, "How did you know I needed this? I don’t recall ever revealing that to your family."
Seeing Lin Changheng’s reaction, Xu Xujun knew this touched upon his private matters and preferences, which could be seen as offensive. He was prepared for this and chuckled.
"Our family has always maintained close contact with Fairy Mo. We previously inquired with her about this, much like we asked you about her preferences before. We were fortunate enough to be told that Mr. Lin requires the Essence Blood of bloodlines at the Muddy Evil level or higher for his Alchemy, and in large quantities—the more, the better."
"So, the family has been deliberately collecting Demon Beast Essence Blood that meets these requirements. We were especially successful in finding quite a bit of the Mountain-moving Ape bloodline that Fairy Mo specifically mentioned..."
"I see."
Lin Changheng had his explanation and knew it was true. This "need" of his, especially for the Mountain-moving Ape, was known only to Mo Zhaoli.