Chapter 238 - 185: Spirit-Feeding Pill Formula, Pledge of Allegiance
Chapter 238: Chapter 185: Spirit-Feeding Pill Formula, Pledge of Allegiance
"Oh?"
Lin Changheng began to ponder. ’The variety of elixirs for Spirit Beasts is already limited. Only Beast Taming Clans bother to research them, and they’re usually just categorized by element. There aren’t any fine distinctions for aiding Cultivation, healing, or recovery.’
’On top of that, Spirit Beasts have powerful physiques and robust internal systems. As long as it isn’t a Poison, they can basically withstand and digest anything; the only difference is the potency of the effect.’
’He himself had been using his Black Armored Earth Turtle to get rid of confiscated or otherwise useless Low Tier Elixirs.’
’It was still alive and well, its strength even increasing steadily.’
’This confirmed that the elixirs fed to this Earth Element Earth Dragon Beast would, at worst, be ineffective on his Black Armored Earth Turtle. They certainly wouldn’t kill it.’
After pondering for a moment, Lin Changheng asked again,
"Besides the Fire-tailed Golden Rat, does your clan not raise any other Muddy Evil Level Demon Beasts?"
"We do not." The Fan Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator shook his head.
"I have already procured the Essence Blood of the Fire-tailed Golden Rat in the Immortal City. I was hoping your clan might raise a different Demon Beast, which would have solved a major problem for me. But alas..."
"No matter."
Having received the Fan Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s confirmation, Lin Changheng said all this, then immediately changed the subject. "I wonder, for the elixir that this Earth Element Earth Dragon Beast eats, would you be willing to sell the Pill Formula to me?"
"The Pill Formula?" The Fan Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s expression immediately became troubled. "That is a secret recipe of my clan..."
The smile on Lin Changheng’s face slowly faded, leaving behind an unreadable expression.
"Very well. Then I won’t make things difficult for your clan."
The Fan Family Foundation Establishment Cultivator couldn’t very well use his Divine Sense to probe Lin Changheng, but his eyes never left him. Seeing this, his mind instantly started racing.
’I was just puffing out my chest and making promises, but now I haven’t been able to meet either of his requests. He must be displeased. If something goes wrong with our first-priority Foundation Establishment Pill and we don’t get a Masterpiece... that’s a consequence the clan absolutely cannot accept.’
So, he gritted his teeth, slapped his chest, and declared, "Alchemist Lin, please wait! Leave this matter to me! I’ll return to my clan shortly to push this forward. When it is time for the Alchemy, I will personally present the Pill Formula for the Thick Earth Spirit Feeding Pill. That is my promise!"
"Oh? Then I’ll have to trouble you, Mr. Fan. I’ll be looking forward to it."
Lin Changheng’s expression brightened, his attitude clearly much improved.
With the matter settled and both parties satisfied, the host and guest parted on happy terms after a pleasant chat.
Toward the end, they even gave off the feeling of kindred spirits who regretted not meeting sooner, with no trace of the icy tension that had gripped the room only moments before.
But in the Cultivation Realm, such false pleasantries and putting on an act were all too common.
After returning, Lin Changheng thought for a moment, then took out a Communication Jade Talisman and sent a message.
It was for Deng Changsheng.
The man had run many errands for him, had a wide network among Loose Cultivators, and worked both efficiently and effectively. He was quite useful. Furthermore, Lin Changheng had made a promise to him, so he decided to lend him a hand.
The Communication Jade Talisman contained only a single sentence: if he could acquire a Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus within two months, he would be granted an opportunity to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill.
Of course, most Cultivators in the Inner City knew that when Alchemist Lin spoke of an "opportunity to obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill," it was practically equivalent to having a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill already in hand.
But Lin Changheng never spoke in absolutes, always leaving himself some leeway, which was in line with his cautious nature.
Although Lin Changheng knew his neighbor, Lü Tong, was also seeking a Foundation Establishment Pill and had a Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus, he still didn’t give him the opportunity. The man seemed friendly and enthusiastic on the surface, but his true nature was impossible to grasp. ’Best to wait and see.’
Then again, just among the Cultivators who had registered with him, there were already five or six who possessed a Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus, so it wasn’t particularly rare.
Lin Changheng could pick and choose as he pleased, giving him a powerful sense of command.
...
「Time passed.」
Soon, the day to open the furnace and refine the Foundation Establishment Pills arrived.
Deng Changsheng was among them, though he wore a disguise.
When he first received Lin Changheng’s message, he had been overjoyed, as he happened to know of a source for a Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus.
He had immediately come to offer his profuse thanks, deeply moved and certain he had not chosen the wrong person to follow.
He had even pledged his loyalty in front of Lin Changheng, vowing that if he was fortunate enough to succeed in his Foundation Establishment, he would obey Lin Changheng’s every command and follow his lead without question.
He had even begun addressing Lin Changheng as "Master."
Lin Changheng did not object, satisfied with Deng Changsheng’s astuteness and gratitude, but requested that he continue to address him as Alchemist Lin in public.
Deng Changsheng readily agreed. It was as if a ray of light had pierced the gloom of his cultivation path, which had been on the verge of ending, allowing him to see hope for a distant future.
Two months later, Deng Changsheng finally reappeared.
Although he was in terrible condition and appeared to have been injured, the joy and excitement in his spirit were practically overflowing.
Lin Changheng knew at a glance: ’He got it.’
But he didn’t ask for details. ’Deng Changsheng could have only obtained such a primary ingredient in one of two ways: either by venturing deep into the Wilderness to harvest it, or... by killing someone and taking their treasure.’
’It was perfectly ordinary, nothing to be surprised about. This was the cruel reality of the Cultivation Realm.’
Deng Changsheng immediately presented the Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus, which was carefully sealed and which he treasured as if it were his own life.
"It’s genuine. It can be used in the elixir."
Lin Changheng made his judgment after a single glance inside the box.
Hearing this, the knot of anxiety in Deng Changsheng’s chest finally loosened.
"Take it back."
With a flick of his sleeve, Lin Changheng sent the Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus shooting back into Deng Changsheng’s arms.
At the same time, he noticed a particular detail: the spirit lotus, with its glittering, jade-like surface, had no roots. It had been processed and preserved for quite some time.
’So, its origin was the second possibility. Some unlucky bastard must have been targeted. They must have put up a fierce fight during the Magical Combat, managing to injure Deng Changsheng, but Old Deng still had the last laugh.’
Lin Changheng was no bleeding heart. What he lamented more was that the plant had no roots.
’Otherwise, he could have added another incredibly precious Tier Two Treasure Plant to his collection.’
...
"Master, please keep it safe for me."
Deng Changsheng held the Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus forward with both hands, his upper body bowed as he pleaded.
"Oh? Something so precious, and you dare entrust it to another, Changsheng?" Lin Changheng said with a deliberate smile.
"If not for your consideration in giving me this chance, Master, how could I possibly obtain a Foundation Establishment Pill with only a Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus? I am not so foolish! I am currently injured and carrying a great treasure, and I fear it is not safe for me to be out in public. It would be better to ask you to keep it safe, Master."
Deng Changsheng clearly understood the situation, which made Lin Changheng nod in approval. "Leave it here, then."
"Thank you, Master!"
...
On the day of the Alchemy, two groups of people arrived one after another, a bit earlier than the appointed time.
The first was Deng Changsheng, who came to retrieve the primary ingredient and place it in his Storage Bag.
The other group was from the Fan Family, consisting of three people: two Foundation Establishment Cultivators and a middle-aged male cultivator at Qi Cultivation Perfection.
Fan Yunqing, who had visited last time, was also present.
He took out a pale green Jade Scroll and handed it directly to Lin Changheng.
After pressing the Jade Scroll to his forehead and confirming its contents, Lin Changheng smiled warmly. "Excellent. Thank you for your hard work, Mr. Fan. Please also express my thanks to your clan."
The two Foundation Establishment Cultivators hastily insisted it was no trouble.
"There is one more Fellow Daoist who cannot make an appearance right now," Lin Changheng explained. "He has already delivered his Spiritual Materials in advance, and I have verified them."
"Next, would both parties please take out their primary and supplementary medicinal materials."
At these words, everyone remained impassive, except for the Fan Family cultivator at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, whose expression changed slightly. His composure was clearly lacking.
He even opened his mouth slightly, as if to voice a question, but then quickly shut it. It seemed one of his clan elders had admonished him, for he lowered his head and dared not speak again.
Lin Changheng inspected all the medicinal materials to ensure they were complete, then announced the pill selection order.
The Fan Family would choose first, and Mr. Deng would choose third. Lin himself would make the second choice on behalf of the absent party.
This time, no one had any objections.
...
Seven days passed under everyone’s watchful eyes.
With a HUM, three Foundation Establishment Pills flew out from the Pill Furnace.
One was a Masterpiece, and two were Genuine.
It was a steady, successful refinement with no surprises.
After paying the Furnace Opening Spirit Stones, the pills were distributed, and everyone departed in excitement.