Chapter 216 - 175: Fire Charm at 40, Essence Blood Channel
Chapter 216: Chapter 175: Fire Charm at 40, Essence Blood Channel
Perfectly calculated, a sure thing.
The two rose and discussed a few more details, like the Furnace Opening Fee.
They settled on two thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones!
Two thousand per person.
This was the average price for a Tier Two Alchemist in the Immortal City to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill.
If only two pills were successfully formed, the third person would not have to pay any Spirit Stones. The cost would be covered by the two who received the pills, and they would also have to provide appropriate compensation to the third person.
The last time, Lin Changheng had only quoted one thousand Spirit Stones. He was a novice, so no one would have come to him at the standard price. Besides, one of the pills was for himself, so he had naturally lowered the fee.
Now that he had made a name for himself, he had to charge the standard rate. Otherwise, he would attract the hostility of other Alchemists, and undercutting the market...
...would do Lin Changheng more harm than good. It wasn’t as if he was short on alchemy work.
"When it is time for the alchemy, please send a communication talisman to notify me, Alchemist Lin. I reside within the Immortal City."
The white-robed female cultivator agreed to the price without batting an eye and took out a Communication Jade Talisman.
He glanced at the fair, slender hand that offered the Jade Talisman. It was clearly a woman’s hand.
Such a poor disguise meant she was almost certainly not a Loose Cultivator. It was a stark contrast to the two previous pill-seekers, whose disguises had been meticulous, thorough, and subtle.
Putting the details together, Lin Changheng guessed her background was anything but simple. She was likely a pampered young lady from a great family or one of the Sects and Daoist Schools. Having lived a life of luxury, she would naturally be lacking in these practical areas.
"Of course. And may I ask your name, Fellow Daoist?"
"Yun."
The white-robed female cultivator said after a moment’s thought.
"I should be starting the refinement within half a year. I’ll notify you directly then, Fellow Daoist Yun."
Lin Changheng handed the Treasure Medicine back and smiled as he showed his guest out.
"Don’t trouble yourself, Alchemist Lin."
The white-robed female cultivator turned, waved her hand, and left with a show of nonchalance.
Lin Changheng watched her leave for a moment before turning back himself.
A short while later, a Communication Jade Talisman shot out from the cave residence and vanished into the sky.
...
「The next day.」 Chef Zeng arrived at his door, looking overjoyed.
"Have you found the Nine-leaf Purple Ginseng?"
He had just sat down at the stone table in the courtyard and hadn’t even had time to take a sip of tea before he asked anxiously.
Lin Changheng leisurely took a sip of tea, giving him a look that told him not to be so anxious.
"The suspense is killing me, Younger Brother Lin." Chef Zeng had no choice but to pick up his teacup, take a sip, and set it down, his eyes fixed on Lin Changheng.
Lin Changheng simply continued to smile.
Chef Zeng suddenly slapped his forehead, a smile of realization spreading across his face. "Look at me, I completely forgot."
He then pulled a Storage Bag from his waist and handed it over.
Lin Changheng accepted it and inspected the contents on the spot before chuckling. "Indeed, the main ingredient has been secured. Fortunately, I have not failed you. But I wonder, what kind of Demon Beast’s Essence Blood is this?"
There were over two hundred portions of Essence Blood inside. It was fiery red, with what looked like sparks swirling within—clearly the Essence Blood of some Fire-element Demon Beast.
Judging by its richness and the aura of its bloodline, it had to be Muddy Evil Essence Blood.
Lin Changheng had seen plenty of Profound Spirit Essence Blood and held no prejudice against this kind. Gaining another Talent was always a good thing, and it could even increase the Spiritual Charm of his Spirit Root. What was not to like?
Besides, he couldn’t even use the abilities until the Species Position was full.
"That’s wonderful! Thank you for going to all this trouble, Younger Brother Lin. If not for you, I’m afraid the alchemy would have been postponed indefinitely..." Chef Zeng said with a joyful laugh, then changed the subject to explain.
"This is the Essence Blood of a Fire Element Muddy Evil Demon Beast called the Poison Fire Bull. Its body contains Fire Poison, but its meat is delicious and rich in spiritual energy. A Tier Two Late Stage Spirit Chef in my clan has developed it into a Spiritual Food. We’re currently doing a small-scale rollout in our family’s Marketplace to gauge the response."
"However, this Demon Beast is difficult to rear and isn’t common even in the Wilderness. Only my Huang Family knows the location of its core population."
"As it happens, the warehouse had a batch of Essence Blood that we hadn’t gotten around to selling. When I found out, I reported it directly to the Old Ancestor, and he approved its release to me."
Chef Zeng spilled all of this in one breath. He revealed everything he could without compromising core secrets, hoping to preempt any questions from Lin Changheng so he could ask about the things that concerned him most.
Just as he’d hoped, Lin Changheng nodded in satisfaction. "You’ve been most thoughtful, Brother Zeng. I thank you."
Then, meeting Chef Zeng’s gaze, he added, "Whatever you want to know, Brother Zeng, just ask."
Chef Zeng breathed a sigh of relief and began asking a series of questions, all revolving around the main ingredient and the alchemy process.
Lin Changheng answered each one.
’Younger Brother Lin might be a shrewd operator who doesn’t make a move without seeing a reward, but once he accepts payment, he truly delivers. And so smoothly, with excellent results!’
Chef Zeng was inwardly satisfied, certain that the matter was settled. Finally, he asked, "When would be a convenient time for you to begin the alchemy, Younger Brother Lin? So that I can report to the Old Ancestor and arrange for the clan to deliver the main ingredient."
Lin Changheng’s mind was already turning, trying to decide on a date, when he heard Chef Zeng quickly add, as if reading his thoughts, "At that time, we will also gift you a new, large batch of Poison Fire Bull Essence Blood."
"I was just thinking about a suitable time to start," Lin Changheng said, slightly surprised. ’When did this Brother Zeng learn to read my mind?’
Chef Zeng, however, wore a nonchalant expression, apparently thinking this side of Lin Changheng was just fine. "I meant nothing else by it, Younger Brother Lin. You don’t need to overthink it."
"How about this same day, two months from now?" Lin Changheng quickly proposed a date.
"Excellent. We’ll do as you say, Younger Brother Lin."
Chef Zeng nodded in agreement without hesitation and soon took his leave to make the necessary arrangements.
Lin Changheng then activated the Communication Jade Talisman the white-robed woman had given him the day before to inform her of the news.
...
’Poison Fire Bull?’
’This seems to be the first time I’ve used Spirit Stealing on the Essence Blood of an ox-type Demon Beast.’
Gazing at the Essence Blood in his Storage Bag, Lin Changheng didn’t bother consulting the Demon Beast Atlas. He began the Spirit Stealing process directly.
’Every Demon Beast Talent can make me stronger!’
Lin Changheng murmured to himself, his gaze resolute.
SWISH!
The Primordial Cauldron trembled faintly. On its second outermost ring, a Red Treasure Seed appeared, bearing the phantom of a charging bull, and immediately solidified.
Poison Fire Bull Treasure Seed: First Layer
Spirit Stealing: 10/100
Utility: Muddy Evil Demon Beast Bloodline with an Innate Fire Attribute. Possesses the Lifebound Talents of Brute Strength, Fire Poison, and Horn Collision. Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one may be chosen to be refined into the body.
...
Lin Changheng’s gaze swept over the description, his mind racing.
’Brute Strength. In the past, I would have seriously considered it. But I don’t think much of it now. I already have the Fifth Layer of the Giant Power Technique - Transformation, and the True Intent of the Carrying Mountain Divine Abilities is still waiting to be actualized. I have no need for such a minor boost.’
’Fire Poison, on the other hand, was a strong candidate. It would be like an enchantment for my Flame Techniques, Fire Element Techniques, and Demon Techniques.’
’It would add another layer of damage—damage-over-time, at that.’
’As for Horn Collision, while I don’t have horns, I could simulate it with my Limb Hardening Demon Technique, using my own limbs as ’horns’ to ram into people.’
After some consideration, he chose Fire Poison.
Refined into: Fire Poison Technique: Peeping Path
Instantly, three Treasure Seeds merged into one and poured into his body. Lin Changheng felt a change ripple through him.
Moreover, it didn’t clash with the Clear Spirit Qi that represented his Poison Transformation Demon Technique; the two coexisted peacefully.
With a thought, Lin Changheng summoned his Fire Bomb Skill. A Fireball appeared before him. He then applied the Fire Poison Technique to it, and the once-brilliant flame immediately grew dark and somber.
Dispelling the skill, Lin Changheng summoned his Red Sky Profound Flame and applied the Fire Poison Technique again. The majestic flame instantly seemed to be coated in a gray sheen, giving it an unsettling quality that was at once both righteous and wicked.
’The toxicity of this Fire Poison... is around Tier One Upper Grade.’
’If I can raise it to the Fifth Layer, or even to Metamorphosis, it could reach Tier Two Middle Grade, just like my Red Sky Profound Flame did. My ability to protect myself would be that much stronger. Even a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would be in for a world of hurt if they were careless enough to get hit.’
’I hope so, anyway. Let’s just hope it doesn’t cap out at the Third Layer like that damn Wood Puppet Fox.’
To this day, Lin Changheng still held a grudge about the Wood Puppet Fox.
Utility: Possess Tier One Upper Grade Fire Poison. The body has undergone a preliminary poison adaptation.
At the same time, Lin Changheng’s Fire Spirit Root finally broke through the forty-point mark for Spiritual Charm!
In addition to the point he had just gained, another had come from his Origin Treasure Seed reaching the Tenth Layer.