Chapter 299 - 211: News from Zhao Li and the Black Tortoise’s Advancement
Chapter 299: Chapter 211: News from Zhao Li and the Black Tortoise’s Advancement
In the courtyard of Cave Mansion No. 98.
"SQUEAK SQUEAK—"
Upon hearing its master’s words, the Black Armored Earth Turtle’s eyes lit up, and it nodded enthusiastically.
It was incredibly curious and desperately craved the uniquely fragrant elixir that the Deep Lake Spirit Clam ate after ’donating blood’!
It had pleaded with its master and Yan Mingyi many times, only to be denied.
Now that its master had given his word, it would soon get to eat the elixir. Its long-held wish was about to be granted, and its turtle heart swelled with joy. It was so eager it could hardly wait to offer up its blood.
Patting the Spirit Turtle’s large, raised head, Lin Changheng found the situation rather amusing.
’It’ll quiet down once the blood is actually being drawn.’
’Then again, maybe not. It’s hard to say, but perhaps this turtle’s greed will overcome the discomfort.’
After comforting the weakened Xiaobai, who had just given blood, Lin Changheng entered his secluded chamber to begin his Cultivation.
He also casually put away the Communication Jade Talisman from Bai Zhenchuan.
...
The third day was his scheduled meeting with Bai Zhenchuan.
The topic of discussion was, naturally, the successful refinement of the Spirit Communication Pill.
However, on the second day, a Cultivator from the Purple Extreme Sect’s local courier station came to his door.
He delivered a letter sent from Purple Extreme Mountain.
’A letter from Li’Er?’
Lin Changheng took out the Sect Seal that Mo Zhaoli had given him. Only after the courier had inspected it and confirmed its authenticity was the letter handed over.
This seal granted access to the Purple Extreme Sect’s exclusive channels for communication and delivering items. However, it came with a strict requirement: either the sender or the receiver had to be within the Purple Extreme Mountain region.
Otherwise, the item would not be delivered.
This was to prevent a Cultivator from giving out multiple tokens, which would allow unaffiliated Cultivators to use the Sect’s internal channels and lead to waste, abuse, or network congestion.
"Thank you."
Lin Changheng saw the courier Cultivator off with a smile.
This left the courier Cultivator feeling rather flattered. After all, those who could live in the Outer Lake Cave Mansion area were either Foundation Establishment Cultivators or Masters with Tier Two Skills. For such a person to have such an amiable attitude, showing no signs of arrogance or superiority, was unexpected.
"You’re too kind, Senior. This is my duty, it’s what I’m supposed to do."
The courier Cultivator scratched his head with a smile and took his leave.
Lin Changheng opened the letter. It spoke of two main things:
First, the negotiations for the Red-eyed Fire Demon, which belonged to a Sect senior, were still dragging on.
However, Mo Zhaoli had deliberately feigned indifference, no longer showing her previous eagerness. This, in turn, prompted the senior to approach her proactively to inquire about the situation.
Mo Zhaoli had then drastically lowered her offer. She had expected the Sect senior to fly into a rage and refuse, as if she’d stepped on his tail, or even storm off in a huff. But to her surprise... his reaction was completely different. He merely said the offer was too low and that she needed to raise it.
He seemed perfectly willing to negotiate.
Because of this, Mo Zhaoli surmised that with a little more patient haggling, the deal could be sealed.
’I didn’t expect things to take a turn for the better.’
Lin Changheng was particularly struck by this, as he was also in need of a Mountain and Marsh Spirit of the Profound Spirit Bloodline level.
He wasn’t about to let a moment of indignation get in the way of acquiring a beast with such Talent.
Ordinary Cultivators are driven by emotion; mature Cultivators care only for their own interests.
Lin Changheng’s stance on the matter was clear: ’Thank you for your hard work, Li’Er. I’ll leave this entirely in your hands.’
...
The second matter concerned Mo Zhaoli herself.
At the time of writing, her Cultivation had reached the Peak of Third Level Foundation Establishment, a state known as the Overflow Realm.
All that remained was to wear down the bottleneck and achieve a breakthrough.
Mo Zhaoli planned to first spend some time trying to break through on her own. If she failed, she would go out in search of Spirit Medicine and ask Lin Changheng to perform Alchemy for her.
Evidently, she already knew that Lin Changheng’s progress in the Alchemy Dao was incredibly fast, and that he had already reached the Tier Two Middle Grade.
She was overjoyed, but also couldn’t help but reflect:
’To think that the Pill Master who couldn’t even reach the Entry Tier for eleven years in the Purple River Marketplace would have a sudden epiphany. In just fifty years, he soared straight to the rank of a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemist.’
’Fifty years might seem like a long time, but the Alchemy Dao is complex. It requires not only a deep understanding of theory but also mastery of practical elements like technique and Fire Control. Furthermore, it demands immense resources to build proficiency. For a Loose Cultivator, such progress is anything but easy.’
’But now, Brother Lin has done it, advancing triumphantly all the way.’
’She couldn’t help but marvel at what a correct decision the Mo Zhaoli of the past had made!’
’If she had been ungrateful, forgotten her roots, and abandoned her old friends upon joining the Sect, where would she find such a close and supportive Fellow Daoist today?’
...
’Almost ten years...’
Lin Changheng did a quick mental calculation. It had taken Mo Zhaoli ten years to go from the Third Layer Foundation Establishment to her current Overflow Realm. Her speed was respectable, but how long she would be stuck at the bottleneck between the Early and Middle Stages of Foundation Establishment was anyone’s guess.
His own breakthrough to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment would likely be a bit simpler, as he had the aid of a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object, which helped with Breaking the Realm from the Early Stage.
He had originally given this item to Princess Tantai for her own breakthrough, but her will had been so strong that she had succeeded in reaching Foundation Establishment using only a Substandard Foundation Establishment Pill, without relying on the Spiritual Object.
She had then returned it to him.
In his reply to Mo Zhaoli, Lin Changheng offered her a blessing for "longevity on the Immortal Dao" and told her to come find him directly whenever she needed Alchemy performed.
...
「The next day.」
Instead of returning to Fusheng Lake, Lin Changheng went to the auction hall where he had first met Bai Zhenchuan.
It was the same grand hall as before.
The hall’s furnishings were simple yet grand. Landscape screens adorned the four walls, and the floor was paved with dark cyan Profound Jade Bricks.
A slender and graceful Female Cultivator was waiting for him inside.
With her stunning beauty, who else could it be but Bai Hengwan?
"Bai Zhenchuan, my apologies for the wait."
Lin Changheng entered, cupping his fists in a salute.
"There’s no need for such formalities, Alchemist Lin."