Chapter 210 - 172: Trouble Finds Its Way, Cultivation Finally Advances
Chapter 210: Chapter 172: Trouble Finds Its Way, Cultivation Finally Advances
"Mmm."
After the brief exchange, they parted ways.
Lin Changheng summoned his Dharma Ship and set off at a steady pace.
’This ’Senior Brother Feng’ probably won’t hunt me down, logically speaking.’
’First, I didn’t act too intimate with Mo Zhaoli. My conduct was perfectly polite. Besides, the Cultivation I showed was only at the Qi Cultivation Stage. I’m no threat.’
’After all, what kind of Foundation Establishment Stage Female Cultivator would marry a Male Cultivator still at the Qi Cultivation Stage? It’s unheard of.’
’Second, the most he would do is try to embarrass me in front of Mo Zhaoli to ruin her impression of me. He wouldn’t go straight for the kill.’
’Otherwise, if she became suspicious, he’d have no chance with her at all.’
That was the logic, anyway. But in his heart, Lin Changheng already felt a profound loathing for "Senior Brother Feng"—for any Cultivator who harbored such malice and could threaten his safety. Wisps of killing intent began to form.
He deliberately kept the Dharma Ship’s speed in check, a small part of him hoping the man would give chase.
But a moment later, his calm returned:
’We’re both in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment. The difference in Magical Power between the first and third layers isn’t that great. With my numerous Demon Techniques, Divine Power True Intent, and my status as a Dharma-Body Dual Cultivator, I have a high chance of killing him quickly. But I’m not confident I can achieve an Instant Kill. He might have Life-Saving Items from his masters...’
’Besides, we just saw each other in the Sect. There were plenty of people around who might have seen or heard us. I can’t make a move now. If I did, the suspicion would fall on me, and I can’t handle the fallout from his Fake Alchemist Sect, let alone a behemoth like the Purple Extreme Sect...’
Lin Changheng’s cautious nature made him instinctively shy away from the risk. Killing this man was too dangerous, not a sure thing.
’I’ll let you live... for now.’
His eyes turned icy. Lin Changheng had made his decision. He immediately pushed the Dharma Ship to its maximum speed, and it shot off like an arrow from a bow, whistling through the air.
...
「A month and a half later.」
The majestic Floating Immortal City once again appeared before Lin Changheng.
He could easily see the massive crowds coming and going. All five main gates were open, with fifteen long, snaking queues stretching far into the distance.
These were guests drawn by the Immortal City’s grand Auction, who had arrived early to set up stalls and trade within the city.
Lin Changheng altered his appearance, put away his Dharma Ship, and entered the city on foot through the designated passage for Foundation Establishment cultivators. Once inside, he took to the air again, flying toward the Outer Lake.
...
Lin Changheng activated his Concealing Breath Skill and slipped back into his cave mansion without alerting anyone. He immediately went into seclusion.
The incident with "Senior Brother Feng" had left him feeling that his strength was sorely lacking. His sense of security had plummeted, leaving a bitter taste in his mouth.
’To think I couldn’t even guarantee an instant kill against an enemy in the Early Stage Foundation Establishment...’
’My strength is simply not enough! My cultivation hasn’t been diligent enough!’
’I must train harder!’
His mind made up, he first went to check on his Spirit Medicine Garden. He was relieved to find that the seven Tier Two Treasure Plants were all growing steadily.
Their growth just wasn’t as fast or gratifying as when he was actively nurturing and ripening them.
Afterward, he took out the hundred-plus vials of Mountain-moving Ape Essence Blood he had received from Mo Zhaoli and absorbed them all in one go.
Mountain-moving Ape Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer
Spirit Stealing: 100/100
Metamorphosis: 0/10
Utility: Possesses a Muddy Evil Bloodline and a natural Earth Attribute. With Perfect Spirit Stealing and Life Nurturing Dao, it can be refined into the Bloodline Ancestral Return Divine Abilities: the "Carrying Mountain" True Intent.
...
’Not bad.’ Lin Changheng was satisfied.
He still had over twenty vials of this blood left, so he stored them away for the time being.
As for the other type of Essence Blood—from the Red-eyed Fire Demon—he stored it in the Jade Box Spiritual Artifact gifted by the Xu Family, even applying an Upper Grade Spirit-Sealing Talisman to be absolutely certain of its preservation.
In total, he had over eighty vials.
He was still more than halfway from his goal.
But that was understandable. After all, Mountain and Marsh Spirits were rarely identical. They were formed when a creature happened upon some worldly Spiritual Mechanism and transformed—an exceedingly rare and entirely unpredictable occurrence.
The Red-eyed Fire Demon Essence Blood he possessed all came from the single creature owned by that senior from the Sect...
It was only natural that the supply was slow.
’He even found himself hoping the senior would take it easy and not just drain the poor creature to death.’
...
For the next three years, Lin Changheng was a complete shut-in, dedicating himself entirely to Alchemy and Cultivation.
He only left his seclusion on two necessary occasions.
The first was to visit Huangliang Residence to retrieve the Essence Blood of the Jade Wave Spirit Turtle and to inform the Steward with a Mustache that he could continue delivering the Essence Blood to his door.
The other was to attend the grand Auction in the Immortal City.
He successfully acquired three items he had his eye on!
The first was a Tier Two Lower Grade Alchemy Inheritance, something Lin Changheng sorely needed. It cost him two thousand three hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
The final price was about half of what he’d paid for the Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemy Inheritance, the Five Elements Returning Origin Pill Scripture.
He had originally planned to go straight for a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemy Inheritance, but he ran into another Cultivator who refused to back down. The man, likely from an Alchemy Clan under the Cyan Mist Temple, was dead set on winning it.
The price was driven up past five thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, and still, the man wouldn’t yield.
Lin Changheng withdrew without letting his ego get in the way. He settled for second best and won the bid for a Tier Two Lower Grade Alchemy Inheritance instead.
This, in turn, infuriated the rival Cultivator, who was left grinding his teeth in frustration.
The second item was a Tier Two Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures called the Flood Dragon Blood Fruit.
It was the size of an adult’s fist, its white surface speckled with red, as if splattered with blood.
Legend claimed it was formed where the blood of a Flood Dragon had spilled. While its exact origin could no longer be confirmed, its benefits for Body Refining were undeniable—it could enhance one’s physique and Qi and Blood.
The Immortal City Auction had vouched for its authenticity; they would never sell a fake and tarnish their immense reputation!
Lin Changheng decisively won the bid, spending over three thousand Spirit Stones.
He acted the part of a wealthy patron, spending money like it was dirt without batting an eye.
The third item was an unexpected acquisition.
It was a Tier Two Lower Grade Array Inheritance.
Lin Changheng hadn’t planned on bidding for it, but then he remembered that his Array Dao had already reached Tier One Middle Grade and he lacked any further Inheritance to progress. So, he decided to try his luck with a bid.
In the end, he won it for a price slightly higher than the Tier Two Lower Grade Alchemy Inheritance.
Three thousand four hundred Spirit Stones!
After verifying the items and taking possession, Lin Changheng left immediately.
He didn’t linger for a moment.
He had flashed too much wealth today, spending nearly ten thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones. It was highly likely he was already being watched. He couldn’t afford to stay, so he made a swift exit.
Even though the grand finale items were confirmed to be a Foundation Establishment Pill and a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, he had no intention of staying to watch.
In fact, the appeal of those two items would helpfully occupy anyone who might have designs on him.
And so, he managed to return safely to Cave Mansion No. 98.
After that, Lin Changheng did not step foot outside his door again.
...
The three years that flew by didn’t feel long to Lin Changheng.
His mind was completely filled with the sense of fulfillment that came from growing stronger.
It was an intoxicating feeling, one of safety and comfort.
That year, Lin Changheng turned sixty-six.
Inside the Secluded Meditation Chamber of his cave mansion.
Lin Changheng sat cross-legged on a stone bed at the very heart of the Spirit Gathering Array. His eyes were lightly closed, his breathing long and steady.
He had been at the First Layer Foundation Establishment for over six years, and today, his Dantian Magical Power would finally reach its peak.
Dense Spiritual Qi from the outside world swirled around him. As he circulated the Jade Void Brilliance Scripture, the Spiritual Qi was drawn into his body, where it flowed with a thunderous roar, surging through his meridians and Qi Veins like a great river.
As his Cultivation Technique circulated, the Liquid Magical Power gathered, coalescing into a small vortex.
Lin Changheng gave it a slight nudge, guiding the energy to strike. He heard a faint CRACK from within his body, as if a barrier had been shattered.
Immediately, he felt his Magical Power rumbling, overflowing like a river breaching its banks. It surged erratically before finally settling and accumulating in his Dantian.
’My Magical Power has increased by a small margin—about thirty percent!’
Lin Changheng concluded, based on what he could vaguely sense.
’Just as I thought. The difference in Magical Power between the minor realms of the Early Stage Foundation Establishment isn’t huge. It can be overcome with various techniques. Still, it’s another step forward.’
After a long while, the fluctuations in Lin Changheng’s Magical Power from Breaking the Realm finally subsided.
Only then did he open his eyes and exhale a long, turbid breath. ’Six years to break through to the Second Layer Foundation Establishment. About what I expected.’
Mo Zhaoli had also spent about the same amount of time at the First Layer Foundation Establishment.
A sufficient supply of Elixirs had bridged the gap between their Spirit Roots.
He stood up and stretched, his bones letting out a series of CRACKS and POPS. A satisfied smile on his face, Lin Changheng opened the Dragon-Breaking Stone and walked out.
"CHIRP CHIRP!"
The Black Armored Earth Turtle, now noticeably larger, was begging for a Pill from a silvery-white Puppet that stood half as tall as a man.