Chapter 239 - 186: Four Years in a Flash, Another Advancement in Cultivation
Chapter 239: Chapter 186: Four Years in a Flash, Another Advancement in Cultivation
The middle-aged male cultivator from the Fan Family, who was at Qi Cultivation Perfection, had no doubts at this point—only excitement for the Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills and a burning desire for Foundation Establishment.
Lin Changheng, however, was the biggest winner from this alchemy session. Not only did he receive three thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones, but also a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill and a Pill Formula for accelerating the growth of a Spirit Beast.
It was worth mentioning that Deng Changsheng had even wanted to leave the Foundation Establishment Pill here for safekeeping.
Clearly, in his heart, he had already come to see himself as Lin Changheng’s complete and utter vassal.
After all, incomplete loyalty is complete disloyalty. And Deng Changsheng had already set foot on the path of absolute loyalty.
But Lin Changheng refused.
"The ability to protect the Foundation Establishment Pill is a skill in itself. So is knowing how to suppress your joy and excitement and safely carry a treasure through a period of transition."
Those were his words, but in reality, Lin Changheng’s thoughts were simple, realistic, and cruel.
’A vassal who can’t stand on his own, who can’t alleviate his Master’s burdens, and who instead needs to hide under his Master’s wing—what use is he?’
"Yes, this Changsheng has learned his lesson."
Deng Changsheng looked confused at first, but after Lin Changheng’s explanation, understanding dawned on him. He bowed and offered his thanks.
"Go. Come see me again after you reach Foundation Establishment."
He waved his hand, and with a flick of his sleeve, a wave of Magical Power rose up and swept Deng Changsheng out the door.
THUD!
Deng Changsheng had just found his footing outside the cave residence, not yet having reacted, when he heard the heavy, muffled sound. The main door was already shut.
"This is..."
It had all happened so fast that Deng Changsheng was still a bit dizzy, his focus not yet returned.
’How is the Master so strong? I couldn’t resist at all! I may be injured, but I’m not so weak that I’d be completely helpless. Is the Master’s strength... really just at the Peak of Qi Cultivation?’
As he slowly pieced it together, his small eyes filled with shock and disbelief. An answer he had never before considered suddenly leaped into his mind.
’No wonder the Master publicly performed alchemy to refine the Foundation Establishment Pill three times but never took one himself. It turns out he was already a Foundation Establishment Cultivator all along!’
’He hid his true strength so well!’
Then came a wave of immense joy. ’I’ve really latched onto a powerful figure this time! A Foundation Establishment Cultivator with mastery of Tier Two Alchemy! Tsk tsk, my, Old Deng’s, ancestral graves have been cold for so many years, but now they’re finally going to start smoking!’
He immediately recalled Lin Changheng’s warning and forcefully suppressed his excitement. Ignoring everyone around him, he departed quickly and vanished in a flash.
...
It is worth mentioning that over the past year, Lin Changheng had received three letters.
They were delivered from the Purple Extreme Sect’s station in the Immortal City and sent via the Immortal Post under the Extreme South Palace.
The first, naturally, was a letter from Mo Zhaoli.
In her letter, she mentioned two things.
First, she had finally broken through to the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment ten months ago. It had been particularly difficult and was a few days later than expected, but it was still acceptable.
She had been stuck at that stage for over nine years, nearly a decade. Although she had taken some wrong turns along the way, she had managed to correct her course in time. Wasting two or three years was not a major issue.
After all, she was only sixty years old and already at the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment, which was a long way from the expected two-hundred-and-fifty-year lifespan of a Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Lin Changheng estimated that he wouldn’t spend a short amount of time at the Second Layer of Foundation Establishment either. Due to his Spirit Root and Cultivation Technique, he would likely need seven or eight years to break through.
It was safe to say that it was a foreseeable reality that Lin Changheng would catch up to Mo Zhaoli’s Cultivation.
Lin Changheng’s Fire Spiritual Root, which had a higher Spiritual Charm, had already reached forty-three strands, only seven strands fewer than Mo Zhaoli’s most prominent Spirit Root.
But in terms of Magical Combat prowess, the two could no longer be compared. Lin Changheng could utterly crush her.
After all, that "Senior Brother Feng," whose Cultivation had been higher than Mo Zhaoli’s, hadn’t survived for more than five breaths against Lin Changheng.
Second was a piece of information Mo Zhaoli had revealed. The senior in the Sect who owned the Red-eyed Fire Demon had been selling its Essence Blood quite frequently recently. This made her suspect that he was, in a sense, "draining the pond to catch the fish."
That being the case, she took the opportunity when he offered to sell her Essence Blood again to subtly probe him.
Her intention was to ask if this senior had any plans to sell the Mountain and Marsh Spirit.
As it turned out, she keenly perceived that he really did have the intention of selling it. Although he didn’t say it outright, he was clearly tempted.
So, she immediately wrote a letter to Lin Changheng to inform him of this.
If Lin Changheng needed it, she could try to communicate and negotiate with the senior to see if there was a chance to buy the Red-eyed Fire Demon directly.
Lin Changheng was instantly tempted by this news.
Buying this Red-eyed Fire Demon would be equivalent to gaining direct control over a source of Profound Spirit Essence Blood.
He would be able to take as much as he wanted, whenever he wanted.
It would be much better than his current situation, buying it for years without having extracted a single Treasure Seed. It was far too slow!
Thus, Lin Changheng immediately took up his brush to write a reply, stating that he did indeed need it. He asked Mo Zhaoli to make initial contact, and if the price or demands weren’t outrageous and the senior showed a sincere intent to sell, he could come forward to speak with him in detail.
After sending the letter, Lin Changheng couldn’t help but feel excited. He had acquired quite a bit of Essence Blood from this type of Mountain and Marsh Spirit—something that existed independently of Demon Beasts, yet was still within that category—but he had never seen one in person. He was intensely curious.
Mo Zhaoli would surely do her utmost to mediate for him. For now, all he could do was wait patiently for news.
...
The second letter was from the Black Water River Xu Family, sent by Tantai Feiyue.
Aside from the usual greetings and expressions of longing, she first mentioned one particular matter.
The Elixir that Xu Xujun had brought back from Lin Changheng had already taken effect, saving Xu Hanji’s Dantian from any further deterioration.