Eternal Life: I Can Harvest Demon Beast Talents

Chapter 250: Chapter 190: Huang Family’s Celebration, Trading a Spirit Beast (2)

"This is a bit like the Outer Lake in the Immortal City."

Lin Changheng remarked.

"That’s right. They share the same origin, but the Spiritual Qi here isn’t as concentrated or high-quality as in the Immortal City, nor is the area as large."

Chef Zeng led Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi to a complex of buildings, all of which were detached villas with private courtyards, so no one would disturb anyone else.

It was somewhat reminiscent of the Xu Family’s old Guanxia Daoist School, but it was much larger, and the Spiritual Qi was of a higher grade.

This was an indirect testament to the Huang Family’s power and resources. Otherwise, they would have had to do as the Xu Family once did: build a single large compound where each guest was assigned a room, sacrificing privacy and making it easy for them to disturb one another.

Chef Zeng then took his leave, telling Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi to rest for a while. He said he would return in the evening to escort them to the welcome banquet.

Any other cultivator would have been invited and escorted by a clan member assigned to guest reception. Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi were clearly an exception, a testament to their high status and importance.

"Please, make yourselves at home."

After seeing Chef Zeng off, Lin Changheng activated the villa’s built-in Restrictions and then reinforced the courtyard with three Arrays of his own. Only then did he feel at ease.

Yan Mingyi was visibly excited. Before long, she had prepared a bathtub and hot water, ready to help Lin Changheng with his bath.

After all, it had been inconvenient on the Dharma Ship for the past few days, and they could only use a simple Cleaning Skill to keep themselves fresh.

"Alright."

With practiced yet gentle hands, Yan Mingyi removed Lin Changheng’s robes. Once she saw him slip into the water, she rolled up her sleeves, intending to give him a massage.

"Ah...!"

A wave of Magical Power suddenly swept over and lifted her off her feet. Lin Changheng reached out, pulling her into his embrace. The sudden movement made Yan Mingyi lose her balance, and she couldn’t help but cry out in surprise.

The next moment, she felt a coolness across her delicate body, her snow-white skin almost blinding. Then, he pulled her down into the tub, and the enveloping warmth washed over her once more.

"Mingyi, you always help me with my bath. Today, it’s my turn to take care of you."

In the tub, Lin Changheng felt her legs habitually wrap around his waist. He smiled warmly, sending water splashing everywhere.

The garden’s springtime passion could not be contained, but a four-layered Array certainly could.

...

「Nightfall.」

Having rested sufficiently, Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi arrived at a grand hall, escorted by Chef Zeng.

The hall was as bright as day, with members of the Huang Clan bustling about nonstop.

Many other Cultivators had also come to attend the celebration. Their auras were all magnificent; every one of them was at least at the Foundation Establishment Stage.

"Alchemist Lin has arrived."

A moment later, a young woman in a red dress hurried over to greet them with a smile. Her figure was full and her face radiant—it was none other than Chef Zeng’s Daoist partner, Huang Linglin.

"Greetings, Fellow Daoist Huang." Lin Changheng could tell at a glance that she had taken a Solid Face Pill. Several years had passed, yet she was in excellent condition—even better than the last time they had met.

Perhaps her constitution was especially compatible with the Pill, producing an effect far beyond the ordinary. It even seemed to have a rejuvenating quality.

Lin Changheng wasn’t surprised. Such cases occurred occasionally, though they were rare.

"Please, come sit over here."

Chef Zeng turned and departed, while Huang Linglin warmly invited Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi to take their seats. The two of them were to share a table in the first row on the left.

A large area in the center was left open for performances of song and dance by the Immortal Maidens. On either side, three rows of tables stretched all the way to the entrance of the hall.

"Thank you."

Lin Changheng sat down with Yan Mingyi.

"Alchemist Lin, please, think nothing of it. In fact, I should be the one thanking you for that Pill! It works wonders. Many of my friends were amazed by its effects and want to buy one. I was wondering... do you have any more available for sale?"

Huang Linglin leaned in and whispered from the side.

"I do. Whether you have a need, Fellow Daoist Huang, or any of your friends do, I will certainly be able to accommodate."

Lin Changheng chuckled, accepting the business readily. "If possible, I can meet with them sometime in the next two days. Otherwise, they’ll have to make a trip to the Immortal City."

The profit margin on the Solid Face Pill was quite high, so Lin Changheng didn’t mind refining a few more batches.

’These noblewomen must be desperate for the pill,’ he thought. ’They’ve likely been influenced by the extraordinary results Huang Linglin experienced.’

’A beautiful misunderstanding, of sorts.’

"Then thank you so much, Alchemist Lin. I’ll contact them and make the arrangements shortly."

Seeing Lin Changheng agree, Huang Linglin beamed with delight. Her body quivered like a flower in the wind, sending dazzling white waves surging across her chest.

He had assumed Huang Linglin would go off to attend to other guests, but she didn’t leave. Instead, she pursed her red lips and sent a voice transmission to Lin Changheng. Only after seeing the thoughtful look in his eyes did she finally depart with a gentle sway in her step.

"Try this wine."

Lin Changheng lifted the jug, filled Yan Mingyi’s cup with Spirit Wine, and smiled.

"Alright."

Yan Mingyi smiled and gently clinked her cup against Lin Changheng’s.

"How does it taste?"

"It has a rather unique flavor."

As they chatted, Lin Changheng’s gaze swept over a table on the opposite side—in the first row to the right.

A middle-aged Male Cultivator and a middle-aged Female Cultivator were seated there together.

These were the two Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Beast Taming Sun Family.

Judging by their unconcealed auras, the male cultivator was at the Early Stage of Foundation Establishment, while the female was at the Middle Stage.

They had come to the Huang Family for two reasons. First, they were invited to the Huang Family’s Foundation Establishment celebration. Second... they were here to discuss the sale of an aging Spirit Beast, the Deep Lake Spirit Clam.

After receiving Lin Changheng’s reply, the Huang Family had already contacted the Sun Family to express their interest in purchasing the aging Tier Two Spirit Beast, but they still had reservations about the price.

The Sun Family seemed quite eager. They had even brought the Spirit Beast with them, intending to finalize the matter within the next few days.

This was what Huang Linglin had just informed him of in her voice transmission.

Lin Changheng was secretly pleased. ’What a fortunate coincidence,’ he thought. The Huang Family’s efforts had been greatly expedited. For him, this meant avoiding potential complications from delays and securing the deal sooner rather than later.

...

Before long, the welcome banquet began.

Lin Changheng also spotted the man who had extended an olive branch to him and strongly advocated for their cooperation: the Huang Family Branch Ancestor, Huang Jiuyuan.

Huang Jiuyuan sat at the head seat on the high platform. He wore a Profound Cloud Patterned Magic Robe and had a slender build. His face showed no signs of age; on the contrary, he possessed the refined elegance of a middle-aged scholar. Only his eyes, as deep as an abyss, would occasionally flash with a sharp light, revealing the incisive power of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.

But Lin Changheng sensed an aura of Withered Silence about him, which meant his Lifespan was running out.

Sensing Lin Changheng’s gaze, Huang Jiuyuan noticed and the corners of his mouth lifted into a smile.

"Young friend, we meet at last. They say seeing is believing, and only today do I truly understand what that means."

"I was the one who was preoccupied with other matters and came to visit late. Please forgive my tardiness."

From his seat, Lin Changheng cupped his hands in salute and replied via voice transmission.

"Haha. If it is fated, we will meet; if not, it cannot be forced. Since you have the time to visit now, young friend, please stay with our clan for a few more days."

Lin Changheng thanked him.

After that, the two did not converse further, and Lin Changheng’s gaze drifted to the side.

On either side of Huang Jiuyuan’s seat, there were four other places.

These were clearly for the other four Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Huang Family.

Only two of them were occupied.

Judging by their faces, they were the very same two who had come to his residence the other day to request Pills.

One was an elderly man in a purple robe, and the other was a middle-aged man with a cold expression.

Chef Zeng had hinted to Lin Changheng about the outcome of the two Foundation Establishment Pills they had requested last time—one a Masterpiece, the other Genuine. One of the men had successfully reached Foundation Establishment, while the other had failed outright.

’If both had succeeded,’ he mused, ’today’s celebration for the Huang Family would have been a "triple-joy" banquet—an even more astonishing event!’

When they saw Lin Changheng’s gaze fall upon them, both men acknowledged him in turn.

The Huang Family’s other two Foundation Establishment Cultivators had yet to appear, for reasons unknown—perhaps they were occupied with other matters.

Among the guests, there were no Fake Core Cultivators, but he did sense three or four at the Late Stage of Foundation Establishment.

Lin Changheng didn’t dare to probe too deeply, relying on a casual scan. ’Of course,’ he thought, ’if any of them are concealing their Cultivation like I am, I won’t be able to detect them.’

The formalities in the Cultivation Realm were quite simple. Huang Jiuyuan gave a speech to welcome his guests, then invited the two newly advanced Foundation Establishment Cultivators to present themselves to the assembled Cultivators.

Afterwards, the assembled Cultivators watched as Huang Jiuyuan flicked his sleeve, and two identical high-backed chairs appeared, landing on either side of the high platform.

There were now seven seats arranged in a row.

At the same time, he announced that the Huang Clan would be adding two new Elders.