Chapter 304 - 213: Two High-Quality Pills in One Batch, Understated Fame
Chapter 304: Chapter 213: Two High-Quality Pills in One Batch, Understated Fame
Lin Changheng was quite surprised after learning her identity. After all, his close and frequent association with Bai Zhenchuan was well-known to many in the Immortal City.
’But this woman still sought me out. What’s her purpose? Is it really just to ask for a Foundation Establishment Pill?’
’Or does she intend to sabotage my partnership with Bai Hengwan?’
After all, Bai Hengwan had once vaguely revealed that she and several of her senior martial brothers and sisters were currently competing with each other for resources.
On the surface, they were still amicable, but in secret, each was using their own methods to get ahead.
This wasn’t just a fight for resources, but a struggle for the Great Dao itself. No one could afford to slack off.
However, Lin Changheng felt it wouldn’t be right to openly refuse this True Inheritance disciple, so he had no choice but to agree.
After seeing the woman out, Lin Changheng thought for a moment and decided to send a message to Bai Hengwan explaining the situation.
Sincerity was the ultimate weapon.
Hiding things was just a breeding ground for doubt and suspicion.
After all, he and Bai Hengwan already had a solid history of cooperation and a foundation of trust that he didn’t want to jeopardize.
Besides, with Bai Hengwan’s Earth Grade Anomalous Spirit Root, her future was incredibly promising.
She could become a crucial contact for their mutual benefit.
...
Before long, Lin Changheng received Bai Hengwan’s reply. "Please, start the furnace for my senior sister."
Upon receiving this news, Lin Changheng felt a wave of relief. Clearly, she wasn’t a petty person, or perhaps she had other considerations. Regardless, the matter was no longer his problem to worry about.
And so, he sent out the notice to light the furnace.
「Half a month later.」
Everyone gathered. Lin Changheng received them, inspected the ingredients in their presence, confirmed the order for choosing the pills, and finally, lit the furnace.
The Cultivator who provided the Nine-leaf Purple Ginseng still did not appear, having entrusted Alchemist Lin to act as their sole representative.
The other two had no objections to this.
After all, given Alchemist Lin’s success rate, he wouldn’t sacrifice the creation of the third pill just to try and upgrade the first two into Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills.
「Seven days later.」
With a clear, resonant hum from within the furnace, Lin Changheng executed the Pill Collection Technique.
Instantly, with a HUMMM,
the lid of the Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemy Furnace flew open. Three pills shot out in a single file, exuding a pure medicinal aroma as they landed on the Jade Plate Lin Changheng had already prepared.
A glance revealed three pills, each as round as a longan.
Their pill patterns were as clear as engravings, and they were plump and round with the luster of cyan jade. A faint Spiritual Light seemed to flow across their surfaces.
The Spiritual Light emanating from two of the pills was clearly stronger than the third, and faint, cloud-like patterns had surfaced on them.
...
At this, everyone crowded over.
Seeing the three round, jade-like Foundation Establishment Pills on the Jade Plate, it was clear that Alchemist Lin’s performance was as stable as ever.
But in the next moment, Lü Tong’s exclamation, accompanied by heavy breathing, broke the silence.
"Th-th-this... Both pills have cloud patterns! Are those two Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills?"
"Alchemist Lin crafted two Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills?"
As soon as he said this, the crowd erupted. Some stared at the pills on the Jade Plate, having lost all composure, while others turned to look at Lin Changheng with a mixture of shock, admiration, and utter disbelief.
Lin Changheng, however, remained calm and composed, his hands clasped behind his back. He offered only a faint smile, showing no signs of fatigue nor a single trace of ash from the furnace, as if he had just performed some trivial, insignificant task.
Lü Tong, who had provided the Celestial Crystal Spirit Lotus, had brought a plain-looking Male Cultivator with him. The latter’s Cultivation was at the Peak of Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation, and the Foundation Establishment Pill was presumably for him.
After receiving the pill, he would probably consume it on the spot and enter secluded Cultivation to attempt his breakthrough.
Lin Changheng understood Lü Tong’s reasoning. He had brought the man specifically to meet him, hoping to get him acquainted with the alchemist. Making such a connection could only be beneficial.
Meanwhile, Senior Sister Yang—Yang Zhenchuan—had brought two Qi Cultivation Cultivators with her, one man and one woman, both of whom were likely junior members of her clan.
The Female Cultivator among them was at the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation. While not as beautiful as Yang Zhenchuan, she had a demure, lovely charm. She was currently staring at Lin Changheng with curiosity, her large eyes fluttering.
"Alchemist Lin, your reputation resounds throughout the Immortal City, and I have long heard of your extraordinary Alchemy Dao. I never imagined that your skills would advance yet again, allowing me to witness two masterpiece pills from a single furnace. Even many Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemists are incapable of such a feat..."
"It truly proves the old saying: ’seeing is believing.’ What a pity I’ve met you so late, Alchemist Lin!"
Yang Zhenchuan praised him, her voice full of emotion as she pursed her red lips.
Her last sentence seemed to hold a hidden meaning, but Lin Changheng pretended not to notice and didn’t take the bait.
"You all flatter me."
Lin Changheng smiled at Yang Zhenchuan, then announced in a clear voice, "As per the agreed order, Yang Zhenchuan, please come forward to select your pill."
"Very well."
After giving Lin Changheng a meaningful glance, Yang Zhenchuan gestured for the female cultivator behind her to step forward.
"Thank you, Alchemist Lin."
The demure young female cultivator stepped forward and respectfully took one of the Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills from Alchemist Lin, presenting a bag of Spirit Stones in return.
"Take it carefully, miss."
Lin Changheng nodded. A quick sweep of his Divine Sense confirmed the amount of Spirit Stones was correct, and a smile touched his lips. His friendly demeanor left the Qi Cultivation Female Cultivator feeling rather overwhelmed by the attention.
Seeing the woman step back, Lin Changheng’s gaze swept over the crowd. He then picked up the other Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill from the Jade Plate and said with a chuckle, "This one is my friend’s share. I shall take it on their behalf."
"Of course."
"No problem."
"Go ahead!"
Everyone voiced their agreement.
The final pill was taken by the Male Cultivator behind Lü Tong, who was just as respectful.
The distribution of the pills was complete, marking the end of this "crowdfunded Alchemy" session.
Lü Tong was seen out first, while Yang Zhenchuan deliberately lingered behind.
"Alchemist Lin..."
Yang Zhenchuan, who had a natural, heroic air about her, strode toward Lin Changheng on long, slender legs, her eyes shimmering like water.
"Yang Zhenchuan."
Lin Changheng looked at her, waiting for her to continue.
"I wonder, will there be opportunities for us to cooperate in the future?"
Yang Zhenchuan asked.
"I run a business. All who come to my door are welcome guests. It wouldn’t be right to pick and choose my customers."
Lin Changheng said with a diplomatic smile.
It seemed like he hadn’t answered the question, yet it also felt like he had.
Upon careful consideration, it appeared to be a positive response, but one could also interpret it as a tactful refusal.
In any case, his main goal was to be vague and noncommittal.
Yang Zhenchuan opened her mouth, wanting to say something, but no words came out. She found him rather difficult to deal with.
The rest of their conversation was like landing a fully charged punch on a bale of cotton. She was left with a feeling of complete powerlessness.
Yet she couldn’t find any fault with Lin Changheng’s behavior.
The only good news was that he had left the door open for future cooperation. He hadn’t outright rejected the possibility.
"Farewell."
Yang Zhenchuan’s own composure was impressive. Her expression remained placid as she finally stood up to depart.
"Take care, Yang Zhenchuan. You’re welcome to visit my humble home for a chat whenever you’re free."
Lin Changheng said with a broad smile as he saw her out.
"Don’t see us out, Alchemist Lin."
With that, Yang Zhenchuan enveloped the two cultivators by her side—who had seemingly heard nothing—and streaked away through the air.
Lin Changheng turned to go back inside, feeling quite pleased. In his Storage Bag now lay two Foundation Establishment Pills: one Genuine and one Masterpiece.
These were strategic assets, which could be used to curry favors or be traded for rare treasures.
Exchanging them for mere Spirit Stones was the worst possible option.
...
In the days that followed, news that "Alchemist Lin crafted two Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills in a single furnace" spread like wildfire.
Like a boulder dropped into a calm lake, the news stirred up enormous waves within Floating Immortal City. The resulting sensation was even greater than the last time.
"Two Masterpiece Pills in one batch? This... Could Alchemist Lin be the reincarnation of an Alchemy Master?"
"Where did this news come from? Is it reliable?"
"It’s said to have come from a Foundation Establishment Elder himself. How could it be fake?"
"Alchemist Lin is progressing so quickly in the Alchemy Dao! At this rate, reaching Tier Three in the future isn’t out of the question!"
In teahouses and taverns, countless cultivators whispered amongst themselves, their faces etched with disbelief.
Foundation Establishment Pills were already difficult to refine. Successfully creating three Genuine pills was a feat in itself. Producing even a single masterpiece was extremely rare, to say nothing of two of them, both of the highest quality and bearing cloud patterns!
What did this mean?
It meant that Alchemist Lin’s skill in the Alchemy Dao had advanced yet again!
For a cultivator, the success rate of reaching Foundation Establishment with such a pill would increase yet again, while the risk of backlash from failure would plummet! For the countless cultivators stuck at the Peak of Qi Cultivation, gazing longingly at the Foundation Establishment stage, this was nothing short of a heaven-sent blessing.
In an instant, the number of visitors outside Lin Changheng’s residence surged once more, and their status and cultivation levels were clearly a cut above the last wave.
Many Late Stage Foundation Establishment cultivators also began sending Visit Cards, their tone a great deal more respectful than before—