Chapter 297 - 210: Changsheng’s Return, the Opportunity Has Arrived
Chapter 297: Chapter 210: Changsheng’s Return, the Opportunity Has Arrived
At this moment, Lin Changheng’s Magical Power, Qi and Blood, and even the Power of his Divine Soul were all drawn inward to an extreme limit. Even if a Divine Sense swept over him repeatedly, it would only perceive an inanimate object.
This was a state of operating at the absolute limit.
’This powerful?’
Lin Changheng was pleasantly surprised. This was not a simple Concealing Breath Skill; it was a temporary "disguise" at the fundamental level of life, turning him into a dead object!
Even an ordinary Fake Core Cultivator would be unable to detect him.
"Haaa..."
Lin Changheng let out a soft sigh of relief.
With this skill in his possession, the pressure and gloom brought on by the mutual attraction and devouring nature of the Jade Void Brilliance Scripture had all but dissipated.
During this period, aside from necessary outings, Lin Changheng had basically avoided going out, fearing that one-in-a-million chance.
Now that he had found a preliminary solution to this problem, he could completely escape this predicament once he found a more suitable Cultivation Technique in the future.
...
Time marched on relentlessly.
Several more months passed.
News once again arrived from the Wilderness Frontline in the Cyan Mist Temple region.
The disadvantage of the Human Race Cultivators had finally been halted.
The situation had now devolved into a tense stalemate.
At the same time, a large amount of Demon Beast Materials began to flow into the market. Some caravans even brought Demon Beast Materials all the way to the Floating Immortal City to sell.
For a time, this drove down the price of ordinary Demon Beast Materials.
However, the prices for Tier Two and Above materials remained firm, not fluctuating much.
Lin Changheng keenly sensed that the harvest season had arrived.
When comparing Cultivators and Demon Beasts of the same tier, Cultivators had the advantage in their greater variety of methods, flexibility, and intelligence.
But it was different in a Beast Tide. Firstly, the Demon Beasts were numerous. Secondly, they had thick hides and tough flesh. And thirdly, they were fearless and swept forward by the horde. A single Cultivator could not possibly stand against them and would only be torn to shreds.
But when the Cultivators gathered their Guardian Power, coordinated with various Arrays, and established a defensive line, the tide of battle began to turn.
This was the prime opportunity to hunt Demon Beasts. Their carcasses would be transported in a steady stream to be broken down into Demon Beast Materials, which would yield Demon Skin Talismans, ingredients for Demon Blood Refining Pills, Spiritual Food from the Demon Flesh, and materials for Artifact Refining from the Demon Scales, Armor, and Claws...
To fuel the war with war!
But many materials would also be brought to the market by Cultivators to be sold, and this was the batch Lin Changheng needed.
He had also scouted many Cultivators who could go south to purchase Materials for him, but he hadn’t found anyone particularly satisfactory.
’It’s a shame about Old Deng. I wonder if he’s still alive. I haven’t seen him in so long; I’m afraid the odds are against him.’
Lin Changheng lamented.
This was the life of a Cultivator. An accident could happen at any time, and one could die in some unknown place, with not even bones left to be found.
It wasn’t even clear if they were alive or dead.
...
Who would have thought that three days later, the moment Lin Changheng walked out of his Secluded Meditation Chamber, he would see a gold-robed Cultivator sitting in the main hall, making small talk with Yan Mingyi.
"Hm?"
Lin Changheng raised an eyebrow slightly.
The gold-robed Cultivator also sensed something and immediately turned to look at Lin Changheng, revealing a face that the latter found quite familiar, though the skin was much darker now.
Who else could it be but Deng Changsheng?
Moreover, his aura was unmistakably that of the Foundation Establishment Stage.
"Greetings, Master!"
The moment he saw Lin Changheng, Deng Changsheng’s face filled with emotion. His eyes reddened as he immediately stood, rushed forward, and bowed respectfully, his voice choked with emotion.
"Good! Good! Good!"
Lin Changheng reached out to help Deng Changsheng up, repeating "good" three times. He clapped the man’s shoulder heavily, clearly not having expected this reunion himself. "It’s been so long, I thought... Haha, it’s good that you’re back!"
"I have missed you dearly, Master. It’s been nearly ten years since I received the Foundation Establishment Pill from you..."
Deng Changsheng was deeply moved.
Lin Changheng nodded but didn’t ask him why or what had happened.
However, the other man began to recount his past experiences voluntarily.
It turned out that after leaving Cave Mansion No. 98 last time, he had gone directly to purchase healing medicine. His plan was to recuperate at home first, then find a Spiritual Land to enter seclusion and break through to Foundation Establishment.
Since Deng Changsheng was not a Foundation Establishment Cultivator and possessed no Tier Two Skill, he couldn’t rent an Outer Lake Cave Mansion at the normal price and would have to pay a massive premium. How could a mere Loose Cultivator afford that?
But he didn’t feel right asking to borrow from Lin Changheng.
So, he decided to save up some more Spirit Stones to be safe.
Two years later, his injuries had recovered. Rubbing his hands in anticipation, he planned to hunt some Demon Beasts to save up Spirit Stones. But misfortune can strike at any time. Along the way, he was betrayed and ambushed by a friend of several decades. The attack was vicious, aimed directly at his vitals.
Although he had been extremely careful and had never revealed that he possessed a Foundation Establishment Pill, his friend had somehow noticed or guessed it from some subtle clues.
He stared in disbelief at his former friend, who now faced him with weapon drawn and chilling killing intent, his heart filled with unspeakable sorrow and resentment.
Fortunately, his own methods were superior, and he managed to kill his attacker.
However, he was injured again in the process—an injury that nearly destroyed his foundation.
"After that... I was just barely hanging on."
Deng Changsheng’s voice was hoarse, laced with deep exhaustion and lingering fear. "If I hadn’t been influenced by you, Master, and become more cautious, keeping an eye out for everything... I’m afraid you would not be seeing this subordinate today."
He spent a full three years just to stabilize his injuries. Then he moved to a large Marketplace, lived under a false name, and slowly accumulated resources again. Finally, he succeeded in his Foundation Establishment and only came out of seclusion after stabilizing his Cultivation.
After that, he rushed back to the Immortal City without stopping to find Lin Changheng.
"Ten wasted years, like being trapped in a mire... Thankfully, I finally crawled out." He gave a bitter laugh, his tone filled with the weariness of time and helplessness.
"Profit clouds the mind..." After listening, Lin Changheng could only sigh with emotion.