Chapter 298 - 210: Changsheng Returns, the Opportunity is at Hand
Chapter 298: Chapter 210: Changsheng Returns, the Opportunity is at Hand
For Lin Changheng, entrusting his back to anyone was absolutely impossible.
Even with those he trusted most, he always held something back.
This was simply being responsible for himself!
It was just as Deng Changsheng had said. A friend of several decades, upon realizing he was favored by Alchemist Lin and taken under his wing, and combining that with the fact that Alchemist Lin could refine the Foundation Establishment Pill, would find it hard not to have certain thoughts.
Even without definitive proof, they still gave it a try in the end.
After all... one should never underestimate a Cultivator’s desperate desire for Foundation Establishment!
"You’re back just in time. I have a matter I need you to handle for me."
Lin Changheng exchanged some pleasantries with him before getting down to important business.
Deng Changsheng’s expression turned serious. He cupped his hands and replied, "Please give your orders, Master. You can rest assured when I handle matters. I will see it done properly!"
"Good!"
Lin Changheng was very pleased with Deng Changsheng’s responsive attitude. He directly reiterated his need for Demon Beast Essence Blood and asked Deng Changsheng to take a trip to the Beast Tide Border near the Cyan Mist Temple for him.
"I wonder, would Changsheng be willing to make the trip?"
Lin Changheng asked, looking at him with a smile.
"Demon Beast Essence Blood from bloodlines of Muddy Evil rank and above, focusing on the types available in large quantities... This subordinate is willing!"
Deng Changsheng repeated the key points, nodded forcefully, and accepted the order.
"Not bad."
Lin Changheng would not treat those who worked for him poorly. He raised his hand and flicked over a Pill Bottle containing Elixirs that could enhance the Cultivation of an Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator as a reward.
At the same time, he tossed over a thousand Spirit Stones as an advance payment.
After all, Deng Changsheng had only recently advanced to Foundation Establishment and surely had no spare money. His Storage Bag was probably cleaner than his face; how could he purchase Essence Blood for him otherwise?
"Thank you, Master!"
Gripping the Pill Bottle and Spirit Stones tightly, Deng Changsheng looked at Lin Changheng with a gaze full of resolve, conveying a sense of swearing fealty unto death.
"When will you depart?"
Lin Changheng asked again.
"Tomorrow!" Deng Changsheng replied immediately.
"Good! I like your proactive attitude. Ordinary Loose Cultivators can’t compare in the slightest."
Lin Changheng smiled, not stingy with his praise.
After having Deng Changsheng stay for dinner, Lin Changheng finally let him leave.
Watching the latter’s figure disappear into the night, Lin Changheng’s gaze was hard to read.
Although Deng Changsheng’s behavior was normal in every respect, and the logic of the past he recounted was reasonable and coherent, Lin Changheng still had a strange feeling.
It was a subtle premonition, one he couldn’t quite grasp or pinpoint.
’Truly strange...’
Lin Changheng was a bit puzzled, but he simply made a mental note of it.
Deng Changsheng must have had other fortunate encounters that he didn’t mention. Lin Changheng didn’t expect him to, either. After all, the man was just a subordinate, not his Puppet.
He had no intention of prying, either.
Besides, this feeling was merely one of strangeness, not of malice or killing intent. Otherwise, no matter what the man said today, he would not have been able to walk out of this place alive.
Most importantly, Lin Changheng still needed someone to run errands for him. As long as Deng Changsheng was useful, he would continue to use him.
This was called maximizing resource utilization.
...
「Two months later」
The Immortal City held its small-scale Auction as scheduled.
It attracted many outside Cultivators, but it paled in comparison to the grand Auction held once every ten years.
The variety, rarity, and value of the auctioned items were all of a much lower caliber.
Lin Changheng naturally attended.
His main objective was the Flood Dragon Blood Fruit.
Lin Changheng had noticed that this item frequently appeared at the Immortal City’s auctions; he had already won it twice.
He suspected that the fruit wasn’t actually that rare. Instead, there was likely a fixed cultivation or acquisition channel that was simply kept secret, a deliberate tactic of scarcity marketing.
But this didn’t affect Lin Changheng’s need for it or his willingness to bid. He was certain the item was useful to him, and that was enough.
Sure enough, Lin Changheng saw the item at the Auction once again!
On the white, fist-sized fruit, spots of crimson were scattered like splashes of blood.
He made a strong bid and won it!
It cost him three thousand five hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
The other items were rather ordinary, and Lin Changheng had no intention of bidding on them.
However, he didn’t leave early. It was a rare occasion for him to accompany Yan Mingyi out, and seeing her in high spirits, he didn’t want to spoil her fun.
The auction items passed by one after another, like flowing water.
Suddenly, a seemingly exquisite, emerald-green hairpin up for auction caught Lin Changheng’s attention.
On the surface, it looked like an ordinary hairpin, but it was actually one of the Life-Saving Items!
When faced with danger, it would automatically activate a Defense Shield that could withstand three full-power attacks from a Foundation Establishment Early Stage Level cultivator!
A thought sparked in Lin Changheng’s mind, and he bought it.
After an Auction staff member brought the item over, Lin Changheng personally placed the hairpin in Yan Mingyi’s hair.
"Thank you, Brother Lin."
With her youthful, maiden-like face, Yan Mingyi’s beautiful eyes sparkled as she looked at Lin Changheng, her expression full of joy and love.
"Silly girl."
Pulling Yan Mingyi into his embrace, Lin Changheng breathed in her faint fragrance, a sense of peace filling his heart.
He watched the entire auction to the end but didn’t make a third bid.
However, he did notice that the quantity and frequency of Tier Two Demon Beast Materials appearing at the auction had increased.
They had most likely come from the Beast Tide front lines.
This also meant that a considerable number of Tier Two Demon Beasts had died.
’Then there must be a lot of Essence Blood...’
’And Demon Beasts that can break through to Tier Two definitely don’t have poor bloodline Talent. They should at least be at the Muddy Evil rank or higher.’
Because of this, Lin Changheng was filled with anticipation for Deng Changsheng’s trip.
This could also be considered his own fortuitous opportunity!
...
Afterward, Lin Changheng dedicated himself to Cultivation while waiting for news from the Inner Lake.
During this time, another Cultivator from the neighboring residence moved out, even coming to say goodbye before leaving.
Lin Changheng naturally didn’t turn him away. They chatted briefly, and Lin Changheng learned that this neighbor felt he didn’t have enough resources to break through to Middle Stage Foundation Establishment. If he continued to waste time, his path of Cultivation would come to a dead end.
So, he decided to take a gamble—
he was answering the Cyan Mist Temple’s "Demon Slaying Order." Killing Demon Beasts would not only yield Demon Beast Materials, but slaying a Tier Two Demon Beast would also earn him the rewards stipulated on the "Demon Slaying Order."
It was a case of killing two birds with one stone.
Many Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Immortal City who were struggling to advance their Cultivation, lacked Talent, or were short on resources could no longer sit still and rushed to answer the call.
To pursue Cultivation, one had to contend with the heavens and with oneself!
In response, Lin Changheng could only wish him good luck, while also selling him a batch of healing, hemostatic, and recovery Elixirs, making a small profit.
Less than a month after this person moved out, another Cultivator moved in.
Lin Changheng noticed this and figured that once the newcomer settled in, they would pay him a visit within a month, just as he himself had done, and as Wine Master Yue had.
However, three months passed, and the other party showed no intention of visiting. Not only that, but they didn’t even seem to have any plans to leave their residence.
They were even more of a shut-in than Lin Changheng.
If it weren’t for the fact that Foundation Establishment Cultivators generally don’t just drop dead for no reason, Lin Changheng would have really thought some kind of accident had befallen the person.
Thus, Lin Changheng gave up on the idea of befriending him.
...
It was worth mentioning that the Huang Family was extremely calm about the approaching Beast Tide.
They made no moves, not even asking Lin Changheng to refine an extra cauldron of Elixirs.
Their behavior and reaction were completely different from those of the Immortal City and the surrounding Influences.
It was strangely quiet.
’Could it be... that something has happened to the Huang Family?’
This was Lin Changheng’s first reaction.
After all, he had clearly sensed back then that the Huang Family Branch Ancestor, Huang Jiuyuan, was approaching the end of his lifespan...
’Could it be that he has passed away?’
Lin Changheng had his suspicions but didn’t jump to conclusions.
...
「On this day.」
Lin Changheng was in the courtyard, helping the Deep Lake Spirit Clam "voluntarily" donate blood.
Just as he was about to insert the needle, a Communication Jade Talisman suddenly flew in from outside. It crashed against the Array, BUZZING incessantly as if trapped in a mire, unable to break free.
"Come."
He formed a hand seal, and the Array immediately parted, opening a small gap. This allowed the Jade Talisman to break free, and Lin Changheng beckoned it over with a wave of his hand.
Pinching the Jade Talisman, he instantly sent his Divine Sense into it to check the message.
The next moment, a smile appeared in Lin Changheng’s eyes as he looked at the Black Armored Earth Turtle.
"CHIRP CHIRP..."
The Black Armored Earth Turtle seemed to sense something, but it tilted its head in confusion. ’Why is Master smiling?’
Lin Changheng didn’t answer right away. Instead, he swiftly inserted and removed the needle, drawing Xiaobai’s Essence Blood before flicking a Blood Replenishing Pill to it. Only then did he turn to Xiaohai with a grin and say, "The blood donation you’ve been waiting for is finally here..."