Chapter 248 - 189: A Request for True Inheritance and the Black Turtle’s Opportunity
Chapter 248: Chapter 189: A Request for True Inheritance and the Black Turtle’s Opportunity
"Could I see the Pill Formula?"
"Of course. However, I must trouble Alchemist Lin to make a Celestial Dao Vow not to divulge its contents."
Bai Hengwan nodded, but stated her condition.
"Fine."
Lin Changheng’s mind started turning. ’If I can get my hands on this Pill Formula, not only will it help my Black Armored Earth Turtle with its breakthrough, but I could also refine a batch of these pills to sell. That’s a definite possibility.’
’Its value might not match a Foundation Establishment Pill, but for many families that raise Spirit Beasts, it’s an absolute necessity!’
"Here you are."
Bai Hengwan flicked her wrist, sending a cyan-white Jade Scroll shooting into Lin Changheng’s hand.
Lin Changheng immediately pressed the Jade Scroll to his forehead and quickly scanned its contents. The initial anticipation in his eyes soon gave way to astonishment.
It contained an Ancient Pill Formula, just as she’d said, along with the names of two unfamiliar medicinal ingredients.
These must be the Ancient Medicines that were now extinct.
But the most crucial part was that it looked like only a third of the complete formula.
Furthermore, it was missing the crucial refining instructions and incantation section.
In other words... Lin Changheng was looking at an incomplete formula!
’So that’s the catch.’
Lin Changheng instantly understood. No wonder the Immortal City’s compensation for this task was so generous—they’d had this planned all along.
The Immortal City had likely taken a single Pill Formula and logically divided it. They would extract the sections mentioning the various Ancient Medicines and assign each piece to a different Alchemist. These Alchemists would be tasked with finding replacements for the extinct ingredients. Finally, all the results would be collected, and the city’s internal Pill Masters would piece them together, improve the Refining Technique, and create a brand-new, usable Pill Formula.
The advantage of this method was that the Immortal City would control both the old and new Pill Formulas.
They could keep it from leaking for at least several decades and make a fortune in the process.
After a few decades, even the most well-kept secret is bound to get out. By then, even if the formula leaked, it would no longer matter.
"Fine!"
After mulling it over for a long moment, Lin Changheng finally nodded in agreement.
He was facing an invitation from the core of the Immortal City. As long as he wanted to continue making his way here, he had to show them the proper respect.
Besides, they had offered a no-fault clause, so there was virtually no risk. He would be compensated even if he failed.
Of course, the reward for success would be even greater. That went without saying.
"But I am, after all, only a Tier Two Lower Grade Alchemist. I can only promise to do my best; I cannot guarantee success."
Lin Changheng reiterated.
"Of course. We’ll be counting on you, Alchemist Lin."
A smile graced Bai Hengwan’s exceptionally beautiful face.
"By the way, I also happen to be raising a Spirit Beast," Lin Changheng added with a sudden smile. "It may undergo a Tier Breakthrough in the future. I hope to have the priority to purchase this Pill when the time comes."
"That can be arranged."
After a few more words, Lin Changheng took his leave.
Watching the green-robed figure disappear through the doors of the hall, a look of keen interest appeared on Bai Hengwan’s lovely face. ’So Alchemist Lin broke through to Tier Two and became a Foundation Establishment Cultivator long ago. He hid it extremely well; even the Immortal City’s intelligence network failed to detect it.’
’If I hadn’t mastered the ’Peeping Truth’ Magic Technique passed down by my master, I might not have noticed either...’
Still, she wasn’t particularly surprised.
’After all, for a Tier Two Alchemist who can reliably refine three Foundation Establishment Pills at once—one of which was even a Masterpiece—it’s perfectly reasonable for him to have kept one to achieve Foundation Establishment himself. In fact, it would be stranger if he *hadn’t*!’
’I hope he can give me a pleasant surprise. Compared to the candidates my senior brother and sister chose, my pick was certainly unconventional.’
Shaking her head, Bai Hengwan took a few graceful steps forward, a cool breeze wrapping around her. She was lifted into the air and shot away with incredible speed, vanishing from sight.
Had Lin Changheng been there to witness it, he would have been amazed. ’As expected of someone with a Wind Anomalous Spirit Root,’ he would have thought. ’Her Escape Light is much faster than mine.’
...
Meanwhile, Lin Changheng had already left the auction house complex, piloting his Dharma Ship as he sped away.
"Here..."
A member of the Law Enforcement Team at the main gate moved to stop him but was pulled back, the words "Flight prohibited..." dying on his lips.
"Didn’t you read the special order issued two days ago?"
A slightly older Cultivator standing beside him asked with a suspicious look.
"I did read it. It was about Alchemist Lin..."
The first man nodded. It was only when the other Cultivator gave him a look reserved for a complete idiot that realization dawned:
"Holy shit, the person I was about to stop was *the* Alchemist Lin?"
"Thanks for stopping me, man. If word got out that I defied the special order, I’d be in for a serious punishment for sure. I’ll buy you a round of drinks after our shift!"
The first man felt a wave of relief, as if he’d just dodged a bullet, and hurriedly expressed his thanks.
"Who would’ve guessed Alchemist Lin would be so young? I subconsciously pictured him as this old, white-haired man, wise and steady—you know, someone who *looks* trustworthy. I wasn’t even thinking just now."
"He’s a Tier Two Alchemist. Don’t you think preserving his youth would be a simple matter for him?"
The other Cultivator, hearing the offer of drinks, couldn’t help but smile as he answered the man’s question.
"Right, right. Of course."
...
Speeding along on his Dharma Ship, Lin Changheng was unaware that Bai Hengwan had already issued a special order to the core personnel of the Immortal City. They were to treat him with the utmost courtesy, grant him every convenience, and under no circumstances hinder him, as he was to be considered a distinguished guest.
This order had been issued at the same time as the one to gift him a room in the Celestial Pavilion for the Auction.
Unlike those who only scramble for solutions at the last minute, Bai Hengwan preferred to make her arrangements in advance. It was less awkward, showed more respect, and laid a better foundation for their cooperation.
Standing atop the Dharma Ship, Lin Changheng once again activated his Concealing Breath Technique: Tongming, masking his Cultivation.
He had, in fact, intentionally deactivated it earlier, relying only on his Perfection Level Qi Concealing Skill.
That was why Bai Hengwan had been able to see through his disguise.
It was just as the saying goes: you only see what I want you to see.
When dealing with major powers and the core of the Immortal City, Lin Changheng had deliberately revealed his Cultivation. A higher Cultivation level commanded greater respect.
Reviewing the portion of the Pill Formula he had received, Lin Changheng noted that he only needed to replace two of the Ancient Medicines—one main ingredient and one supplementary ingredient.
He would need to consider their Medicinal Power, Medicinal Properties, and how they would interact with the other herbs in the formula, then gradually experiment with replacements.
Before he left, Bai Hengwan had also given him a Storage Bag filled with all the other required Medicinal Materials.
It also contained a Floating Life Order from the Immortal City, intricately carved with the image of a city and a lake—the iconic symbols of Floating Immortal City.
He could determine if the Medicinal Properties of any new ingredients were compatible through simple test refinings. After all, theory alone was insufficient; everything had to be verified through practice.
Furthermore, she had told him that if he found any potential replacement herbs, he could use the Floating Life Order to requisition them directly from the Spiritual Materials Hall.
The Spiritual Materials Hall, much like the Pill Hall, was directly managed by the Immortal City. It specialized in selling medicinal herbs, lumber, ores, and all sorts of other miscellaneous materials.
Lin Changheng had bought most of his cost-effective Body Refining Materials from there in the past.
Lin Changheng wasn’t completely in the dark about how to proceed; he already had a few basic ideas.
There was a decent chance he could make it work.
...
「Back inside Cave Mansion No. 98.」
"Brother Lin, come and rest for a moment."
Yan Mingyi hurried out to greet him, beginning to massage his legs and back to help him relax.
The Black Armored Earth Turtle, an Elixir in its mouth, also wandered out, licking the pill as it went. It came to a stop at Lin Changheng’s feet and lay down.
Lin Changheng gently tapped the turtle’s shell with the tip of his foot and chuckled. "You’re a lucky one. You might just get your hands on this Spirit Communication Pill."
Standing behind Lin Changheng, Yan Mingyi asked with curiosity, "Brother Lin, what is this Spirit Communication Pill? Why haven’t I ever heard of it?"
After all, she had been with Lin Changheng for many years. Though she had never learned Alchemy, she had heard of and seen plenty of Elixirs.
"It’s from an Ancient Pill Formula. You can think of it as a Foundation Establishment Pill for Demon Beasts and Spirit Beasts. It helps them with Breaking the Realm."
"Oh?"
Yan Mingyi covered her mouth with a soft gasp. Her gaze fell upon the Black Armored Earth Turtle, a creature she had cared for over many years and grown very fond of, and her eyes lit up with joy.
"Brother Lin, Xiaohai already has the Profound Spirit Bloodline, which gives it a natural chance at a Tier Breakthrough. With the help of this Spirit Communication Pill, does that mean its chances of breaking through to Tier Two are extremely high?"