Chapter 230 - 181: Profound Flame Transformation! Strategic Planning
Chapter 230: Chapter 181: Profound Flame Transformation! Strategic Planning
Core Formation was a distant goal, but so was maturing a Tier Three Treasure Plant. Nurturing it with Foundation Establishment Magical Power would surely be less efficient than with a Tier Two Treasure Plant, and the effectiveness would be significantly diminished.
It was safe to say that both would take an extremely long time to accomplish.
If he could obtain one during his long years of Cultivation, it would be an excellent aid for his eventual Core Formation.
’I’ll take my time searching for one. I just need to keep an eye out.’
This was not something that could be forced. Lin Changheng wasn’t one to overreach, and he wouldn’t expend immense effort or Energy on it. If he happened to come across one and confirmed its use to him, then he would start making plans.
...
Later that night, when Lin Changheng emerged from the Spirit Medicine Garden, Yan Mingyi had already prepared a bathtub and hot water for him.
"Brother Lin."
Her soft, low call, tinged with a hint of shyness, made Lin Changheng feel as if things were slipping out of his control.
’Is this "Maid" here just to attend to my daily needs, or is her job description much broader?’
Clearly, her duties were already beginning to stray toward the latter.
’Isn’t her sense of responsibility a little too strong?’
But none of this was subject to Lin Changheng’s will. It was all happening, progressing, and changing naturally on its own.
With a slight nod, Lin Changheng walked straight over.
She began to help him undress. Her slender, fair hands removed his long robe and untied his sash, and he could faintly feel her fingertips brushing almost imperceptibly against his skin.
However, when only the last layer of clothing remained, Yan Mingyi gave a slight curtsy and departed.
The last time, she had insisted on seeing her duties through to the end and had accidentally taken a peek. That one glance shook her Heart and Spirit, sent a crimson blush across her pretty face, and filled her with overwhelming shyness. She had hastily excused herself and fled as if escaping.
Afterward, whenever she tried to rest, the image would replay in her mind the moment she closed her eyes. Her heart would pound erratically, and she would toss and turn, unable to sleep through the night.
She never dared to be so reckless or to peek again.
Lin Changheng simply shook his head and chuckled, then added a measured amount of Tier Two refined Spirit Liquid and Spirit Wood to the water, mixing them according to the formula.
He then removed his clothes, stepped into the tub, and began his daily Body Forging, not daring to miss a single day.
"Hooo..."
Before long, Lin Changheng’s brow furrowed. ’Something isn’t right.’
After a moment of thought, he realized what it was. The pain was too faint.
For Lin Changheng, it was little more than a tickle.
’I’ve been using this for so long. The Medicinal Power is no longer strong enough.’
The answer was obvious. No pain meant no tempering, which in turn meant the process was either ineffective or had slowed to a crawl.
Fortunately, the supplementary methods for the *Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood* included formulas for higher-level Body Refining Materials. All he had to do was purchase them.
After quickly absorbing what he could, Lin Changheng went to his Seclusion Room to begin his Cultivation.
He immediately began circulating the *Jade Void Brilliance Scripture*, absorbing and refining the Spiritual Qi that the Spirit Gathering Array had gathered.
His current state and efficiency were a significant improvement over before. He had clearly progressed quite far in the realm of Mastery and was about to reach Minor Achievement.
This was a Tier Two Upper Grade Technique, and it came with its own inherent challenges. Combined with its unique characteristics, the difficulty of Cultivation was higher, and progress was slower. Lin Changheng had long been prepared for this.
Thus, Lin Changheng was quite satisfied with his current progress.
He even suspected that it had a continuation beyond the Foundation Establishment Stage, though he had no proof.
His Cultivation continued unabated.
「Two hours later」
Suddenly, Lin Changheng’s expression flickered. He had cultivated another strand of Red True Essence, which he immediately "fed" to the Red Sky Profound Flame coiled in the center of his Dantian.
Had one’s perception been keen enough, they would have noticed a distinct change in the Red Sky Profound Flame. Its dark gold color had grown much deeper, while its hidden inner power had become extremely condensed, and... terrifying!
It had actually reached the level of a Tier Two Upper Grade Flame!
...
「About a year ago」
At that time, Lin Changheng had a vague premonition and had fed a wisp of Red True Essence to his Red Sky Profound Flame, which was on the verge of a breakthrough. The seed of flame within his body immediately trembled violently, and the overflowing Profound Flame suddenly contracted, withdrawing completely into the fire seed.
A cocoon-shaped "Fire Egg" seemed to materialize, suspended in his Dantian. Its surface was covered in dark gold patterns, and a heart-pounding pulse emanated from within, as if some ferocious creature were gestating inside.
But outside the "Fire Egg," all was silent. Even Lin Changheng couldn’t help but halt the circulation of his Cultivation Technique.
He kept his Divine Sense focused on it, observing its every change.
He grew worried that some anomaly might occur and injure him.
He immediately activated the Fire Extinguishing Demon Technique, forming a "vacuum zone" devoid of fire around the "Fire Egg" in his Dantian.
’This isn’t enough...’
Lin Changheng continued to mobilize the Liquid Magical Power accumulated in his Dantian, circulating it at high speed to form a "Water Curtain" of Magical Power that enveloped the Fire Egg.
This added another layer of protection.
At the same time, he focused his full attention, prepared to activate the True Intent of his Fire Manipulation Divine Abilities at a moment’s notice to suppress any potential anomalies from the Flame and protect himself.
Only after taking these three precautions did he feel slightly more at ease.
Another long half-hour passed.
Beads of sweat had formed on Lin Changheng’s forehead before a change finally occurred.
"CRACK—!"
The Fire Egg suddenly cracked open.
A Flame rose from within, spreading its wings of fire like a phoenix in nirvana, but it didn’t release its power outward!
Under Lin Changheng’s Introspection, he saw that the newborn Flame’s dark gold base remained unchanged, but the edges of its corona were now gilded with a dazzling gold.
’Did it work?’
His expression shifted, but he didn’t rashly remove his three layers of precautions.
In an instant, the fire surged. Tongues of flame, like furious dragons, rose and danced within his Dantian, causing the temperature of his entire residence to rise significantly.
Yet it didn’t leak any of its power to harm him. It was as docile and controllable as ever, moving with the ease of one’s own limbs.
’This is the evolved Red Sky Profound Flame! A Tier Two Upper Grade Flame!’
Only after realizing this did Lin Changheng retract his precautions and relax, though his expression remained composed.
But he’d have to test it to know its true power!
"WHOOSH~"
With a mere thought, a wisp of Flame shot from his finger, coiling and slithering around his fingertip like a Spiritual Snake. Its aura was contained, yet it faintly exuded a heart-pounding pressure.
A sharp glint flashed in Lin Changheng’s eyes. After imbuing the Flame with the True Intent of his Fire Manipulation Divine Abilities, he abruptly flicked his finger.
"CHHH—"
A line of dark gold fire shot out, instantly striking the Tier Two Middle Grade Meteorite Test Stone he had purchased a year ago, which was about thirty feet away.
Its surface was already covered in sword marks and handprints.
Now, another small, finger-width hole appeared, penetrating at least three inches deep!
Even more astonishing, the edges of the hole had vitrified into a crystalline state—a sign that the Flame’s temperature had reached an absolute extreme.
"Such incredible power!"
Only then did Lin Changheng break into a smile, clearly beyond satisfied.
After all, a Tier Two Upper Grade Exotic Fire was just one evolution, one level, away from becoming a Tier Three Flame.
And a Tier Three Flame was the level of a Core Formation Cultivator’s Lifebound Pill Fire!
It was incredibly powerful with diverse applications, making it a crucial asset for any Core Formation Cultivator.
This meant that the *Jade Void Brilliance Scripture* had truly opened a path for him!
It gave Lin Changheng the opportunity to obtain a Tier Three Flame ahead of schedule.
The technique itself had to be extraordinary, possibly even surpassing the Tier Two level!
He just wondered where the Huang Family Branch Ancestor had obtained it. Where had he been traveling back then?
Perhaps he could find an opportunity to trade for this information in the future.
Then again, if the Huang Family had known about this technique’s unique property, they would have sooner handed over their ancestral Cultivation Technique than part with this one.
But who could possibly possess an Exotic Fire during the Foundation Establishment Stage, let alone the Qi Cultivation Stage?
The probability existed, but it was vanishingly small, and it was highly unlikely to occur in a remote corner like the Song Territory. Such a thing was more likely to happen in the Giant Cultivation Sects or Immortal Dao Dynasties of the wider world.
The Huang Family would never have been able to discover this.
It was a moot point.
...
「Returning to the present」
The Red Sky Profound Flame excitedly devoured the Red True Essence, its aura strengthening by another fraction.
Lin Changheng knew, however, that advancing to Tier Three and undergoing another evolution would require an incredibly long and patient effort.
’My lifespan!’
He ended his meditation, rose, and walked toward the door. As he reached the entrance, a massive shadow fell over him. It was a giant Puppet!
It was pitch-black, stood nine feet tall, and was clad in Heavy Armor...
It was completely repaired!