Chapter 285 - 204: New Talent, First Talisman Treasure
[Acquired: Nourishing Spirit Technique: Peeping Path]
A mass of azure radiance now resided within Lin Changheng's body.
It was like smoke, like mist—formless and intangible, yet real.
He subconsciously raised his hand, and a wisp of that same azure light naturally coiled around his fingertip.
This meant it could be absorbed into the body to be nurtured or… projected outward.
But he had a vague feeling that it could only nurture one item at a time, and its efficiency was limited.
'This must be a limitation of the First Layer Treasure Seed.'
Like his other Treasure Seeds, it would continuously improve and transform as his Spirit Stealing progressed.
[Utility: Nurture a single wondrous item at a time, providing a preliminary enhancement to its power.]
'Treasure Talismans! Magical Treasure Embryos!'
Lin Changheng's eyes lit up as a new goal formed in his mind.
If his previous Treasure Seeds had all enhanced him personally, this one was an upgrade to his artifacts and methods!
Next, he tested it on other items, but it had no effect on things like his Pill Furnace or Spiritual Flying Sword.
He made a preliminary conclusion: only special Materials or Artifacts with inherent growth potential would work. He could test it once he had a Treasure Talisman in hand.
Unfortunately, the Red Sky Profound Flame was also incompatible. Water and fire were in direct conflict, and Lin Changheng didn't dare to try again.
...
「The next day.」
Outside Outer Lake No. 98 Cave Mansion, another messenger in white arrived to invite Lin Changheng for a meeting in the lake.
His purpose was to lead the way.
Lin Changheng lacked the special Array Flag Token and couldn't enter uninvited.
He immediately steered his Dharma Ship, which whistled into the lake and brought him to Shuiyue Pavilion.
"Alchemist Lin, please come in."
The moment he landed on the waterside platform, the clear and pleasant voice of a Female Cultivator rang out.
"Greetings, Bai Zhenchuan."
Lin Changheng strode inside and offered a cupped-fist salute.
Her exquisitely beautiful face was unchanged, with brows like distant mountains and eyes like a Cold Pool, resembling a Female Immortal from a painting. At this moment, however, a trace of contemplation showed on her face. Upon seeing Lin Changheng, she quickly concealed it, replacing it with a faint smile.
The two exchanged pleasantries before host and guest took their seats. A maid then served the Jade Wave Floating Bud Spirit Tea, the same kind he had drunk before.
The last time Bai Zhenchuan had gifted him some, he had drunk it all within the first year.
Tasting it again after what was essentially two years, it was still just as stunning.
"I wonder why Bai Zhenchuan has summoned me in such a hurry. Is there an urgent matter?"
Lin Changheng asked directly.
"Indeed, there is a matter that requires Alchemist Lin's assistance."
Bai Hengwan wasn't one for pleasantries. She nodded directly, and with a pinch of her jade-like fingers, she materialized a Jade Scroll and flicked it toward him. "Alchemist Lin will understand once you see this."
Lin Changheng looked at Bai Zhenchuan's calm, pretty face, feeling puzzled. He reached out, caught the Jade Scroll, and sent his Divine Sense into it.
A moment later, his brow furrowed slightly.
Withdrawing his Divine Sense, he looked up, and a confused voice escaped him. "Why is this another Pill Formula that requires substituting Medicinal Materials?"
"...And it seems to be the formula for the Spirit Communication Pill?"
But this version was more complete than the previous fragment, though it was missing the refining section.
Bai Hengwan smiled and nodded. "Correct. It is the formula for the Spirit Communication Pill."
"I would like to ask Alchemist Lin to once again make a few substitutions for the circled Medicinal Materials, to make their Medicinal Properties compatible."
Bai Hengwan stated her purpose.
Seeing Lin Changheng's continued confusion, Bai Hengwan briefly explained the situation.
It turned out that after Lin Changheng had provided his answers last time, the other two invited Pill Masters had also submitted their results over the following year.
After the results were collected, several other senior Tier Two Alchemists under the Immortal City's command adjusted the Pill Formula, a process which took another considerable amount of time.
After that came the trial phase.
Three batches exploded in a row.
After the problems were recorded and adjustments were made, they had no choice but to hand it over to Elder Kong to personally attempt a batch and make a judgment.
His attempt took place three months ago.
The result... another explosion.
Afterward, Elder Kong conducted an in-depth analysis, identified the problem, and reissued the task, demanding a revised plan.
This was because Elder Kong was at a critical moment in his seclusion, breaking through to Tier Three Alchemy, and had no time to handle it personally—a situation that even Qing Lan Wanderer had tacitly approved. The task was then handed back to the Immortal City's Tier Two Alchemists, but two months passed with no progress.
However, the deadline set by Qing Lan Wanderer was approaching, so they had no choice but to report back to Elder Kong.
Elder Kong also found the matter troublesome. As he was frowning in thought, a flash of inspiration struck him. He suddenly thought of someone and made a suggestion.
"Find Alchemist Lin."
The message was immediately passed down through the ranks, and after some deliberation, it led to the current scene.
"Elder Kong overestimates me. This is far more complex than before... I'm afraid I'm not up to the task."
Lin Changheng shook his head with a wry smile.
This wasn't a rejection with some ulterior motive; he genuinely did not want to take on this task.
He wasn't arrogant enough to assume that all the Alchemists in the Immortal City were incompetent and that he would surely succeed. The Medicinal Properties involved were most likely incredibly complex and difficult to harmonize, which was why it had dragged on for so long.
Besides, there was nothing he could gain from this that he found particularly attractive.
"Alchemist Lin, this matter is very important to me. If it succeeds, it will give me a significant advantage in the competition for resources. Therefore, I must ask for your help."
"Please accept my thanks in advance."
Bai Hengwan spoke with great sincerity, rising to her feet and bowing as she made her request.
Lin Changheng remained silent, seemingly in thought.
For a moment, the entire lakeside pavilion became so quiet you could hear a pin drop. Only the ceaseless sound of waves lapping against the shore from outside could be heard, clear and distinct.
"What about the other two Pill Masters? They also succeeded in finding replacement Medicinal Materials last time."
Lin Changheng suddenly suggested.
"If I fail to persuade you to help this time, Alchemist Lin, the task will naturally fall to the other two Pill Masters. It's just that this 'personally appointed' opportunity from Elder Kong would no longer fall to me. I'd be handing it over on a silver platter for my senior martial brothers and sisters to claim..."