Chapter 332 - 227: Iron Obtained, Embryo Refining Technique
Chapter 332: Chapter 227: Iron Obtained, Embryo Refining Technique
As he spoke, he reached for his waist and retrieved the piece of Iron he had shown before.
He placed it on the table between them.
"Indeed."
Lin Changheng nodded in agreement. He reached out, took it, and toyed with it in his hand. It was cool to the touch and felt quite heavy.
He probed it with his Divine Sense, and his inspection confirmed it was genuine.
’It’s a pity it’s a bit small. If it were larger, it would be more than qualified—it would be excellent—as the primary material for a Magical Treasure Embryo.’
’But if that were the case, a single Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill wouldn’t be enough to trade for it, nor would it solve the key problem.’
"I wonder if you might have any Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pills, Mr. Lin? The offer I made at the Treasure Exchange Meeting still stands."
After speaking, Zhang Shouyi watched Lin Changheng with his cloudy old eyes, observing his reaction.
First, he needed to confirm one thing: did Lin Changheng have a Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill on hand?
If he did, that would be one type of negotiation.
If he didn’t, that would call for a completely different approach to their cooperation.
Hearing this, Lin Changheng put down the Iron he was toying with, a thoughtful expression appearing on his face.
Seeing this, Zhang Shouyi understood. A hint of delight emerged within him. ’He must have the Pill on hand to react like this,’ he thought. ’If he didn’t, he wouldn’t even need to think about it; he’d just refuse outright.’
So he asked tentatively, "Do you have some concerns, Mr. Lin?"
Lin Changheng’s fingertips tapped twice on the cold Iron, producing a faint clicking sound. The thoughtful look on his face did not fade.
"Elder Zhang, your Treasure is indeed rare and precious, and I am quite tempted. To be honest with you, I do have such an Elixir in my possession..."
He paused for a moment, as if carefully choosing his words, then explained, "It’s just that... I’ve already promised this Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill to another Fellow Daoist, so it wouldn’t be right to sell it to someone else."
"Otherwise, I likely would have made a bid for it directly at the Treasure Exchange Meeting yesterday..."
’As the saying goes, ask for the sky, and then let the haggling begin.’
Besides, this wasn’t the Treasure Exchange Meeting. The other party had come seeking him out. Lin Changheng naturally held the initiative and had to angle for the best possible outcome.
He couldn’t just agree the moment the other party opened his mouth.
At its core, this was a process of probing each other’s bottom lines.
Zhang Shouyi’s expression didn’t change upon hearing this; he was also deep in thought.
Lin Changheng spoke again, seemingly considering the other’s perspective: "I wonder, Elder, for which prodigy of your clan are you so urgently seeking this Pill? If it isn’t for an imminent breakthrough, I could always start a new batch, provided the Materials are complete..."
His question was cleverly phrased. It not only fished for information about the other party’s needs but also threw the pressure point of ’time constraints’ back at him, leaving room for Lin Changheng to make demands or control the pace of the negotiation later.
Zhang Shouyi sighed, a complex mix of helplessness and hope on his face. "To be honest with you, it’s for my good-for-nothing grandson. He’s been stuck at the Peak of Qi Refining for nearly five years. He tried to break through on his own once and failed, slightly damaging his foundation. If he can’t get another Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill to aid him, I’m afraid... his path to the Great Dao will be cut off. Time is indeed tight. I fear we don’t have enough of it."
"Let’s not mince words. I’ll be direct. If Alchemist Lin is willing to part with this Pill, you can name your price. If I can meet it, then all is well. If I truly cannot afford it, then we’ll have to call off this transaction."
Clearly, he understood Lin Changheng’s implication and cut straight to the point. His final words were firm, showing he would not be easily manipulated.
"I see..."
As if oblivious to the underlying meaning, Lin Changheng’s face showed only realization and sympathy. He stopped tapping the Iron and mused, "If that’s the case, then it would be unseemly for me to keep refusing..."
He then turned to face Zhang Shouyi. "I wonder... might I be able to take a look at the Refining Technique for a Magical Treasure Embryo?"
"The Refining Technique for a Magical Treasure Embryo?"
Zhang Shouyi was taken aback. He had expected Lin Changheng to make an exorbitant demand, but it was just a matter of copying a Jade Scroll.
He immediately relaxed and smiled. He had already taken out the Materials; why would he care about a mere Refining Technique?
So he uttered two words: "Why not?"
"In that case, we have a deal. Elder, please, take a look."
Lin Changheng smiled as well and decisively took out a Pill Box, handing it over.
Zhang Shouyi took out a Jade Scroll in return, and they exchanged items, each inspecting their new acquisition.
"Not bad."
"Excellent!"
A quarter of an hour later, they both gave their verdicts, then looked at each other and smiled. Both had achieved their goals.
Zhang Shouyi didn’t stay long and soon took his leave.
Lin Changheng walked him to the door.
After taking a few steps, Zhang Shouyi suddenly turned back with a smile. A voice transmission entered Lin Changheng’s ear, "By the way, Mr. Lin, our collaboration has been pleasant. I have a piece of advice, if you’d care to hear it."
"Please, enlighten me."
Lin Changheng raised an eyebrow slightly, nodding with a smile.
"It would be best not to leave the Outer Lake of the Immortal City for a while."
Zhang Shouyi delivered this cryptic message without explaining why, then waved his hand, turned, and vanished in a flash.
’Don’t leave the Outer Lake of the Immortal City...’
Lin Changheng turned and walked back to his residence, pondering the meaning of those words.
’Could it be... related to the feeling of being watched yesterday? Zhang Shouyi did leave later than I did. As we’re both in the Late Stage Foundation Establishment, it would be normal for him to have noticed something. After all, he was paying attention to me back then, planning this private trade...’
’The reason for his warning is also simple. I didn’t outrageously inflate the price, so he left satisfied.’
But Lin Changheng’s original goal—that Refining Method for the Magical Treasure Embryo—would have taken him a great deal of effort to find from scratch.
Zhang Shouyi’s advice certainly put him on alert and told him to be cautious, but it was impossible for him to stay within the Outer Lake and the Immortal City.
Not to mention the pre-arranged Treasure Talisman trade he had to complete, he also needed to go try his luck outside the Jiazi Secret Realm, which opened only once every sixty years. Even if acquiring whole Spirit Grass and Spirit Medicine was difficult, their roots might not be.
’First, I’ll focus on breaking through to the Tier Two Late Stage in my Body Refining. By then, I’ll have more confidence to handle whatever comes my way. Even if enemies are lying in wait, I’ll be able to deal with them.’
Having made his decision, Lin Changheng immediately went back into seclusion.
...
「A month passed in a flash.」
The door to the Seclusion Room had not opened for a long time, and no sound came from within.
Yan Mingyi, on the other hand, had achieved results from her diligent Cultivation during this period.
Inside her Small Cultivation Room, the Spirit Gathering Array was collecting Spiritual Qi, which churned restlessly. Suddenly, an aura about thirty percent stronger than before erupted from within.
If Lin Changheng had been there, he would have instantly recognized it as the aura fluctuation of the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation.
This meant that Yan Mingyi had finally broken through to the Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation.
At this time, she was only around forty-eight or forty-nine years old.
She could now make ample preparations to aim for Foundation Establishment.
’Then again, if she couldn’t even achieve this with the support of her husband, a Tier Two Middle Grade Alchemist, and her own resources as a Tier One Upper Grade Puppet Master, just how terrible would her Spirit Root Talent have to be?’
But what worried Lin Changheng was that this woman’s will to pursue the Dao was not firm. It was far weaker than that of Zhao Li or Feiyue. She was content with small comforts. Reaching Foundation Establishment might not be a problem, but the path beyond that would not necessarily be easy for her.
But this was her innate character. As the saying goes, it’s easier to change rivers and mountains than to alter one’s nature. Lin Changheng couldn’t change her; he could only hope that one day she would have her own awakening and come to a clear realization.
...
「Meanwhile, in the secret chamber.」
Lin Changheng sat cross-legged on the Cold Jade Meditation Mat, his aura as deep and still as an abyss.
The stalk of Thunderstruck Grass hovered about a foot in front of him. Its originally scorched-black leaves seemed to have come alive, as if touched at their very root in a final, brilliant resurgence.
Silver serpents of electricity danced upon it, emitting a scalp-numbing CRACKLE and bathing the entire secret chamber in flickering light.
A destructive Thunderbolt Power permeated the room, making the very air feel scorching.
’This is the final moment... I must break through in one go!’
Lin Changheng took a deep breath, a resolute glint flashing in his eyes.
The bottleneck in his Body Refining had loosened but still hadn’t broken. It needed a violent impact.
The Technique of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood circulated rapidly. The immense Blood Qi and the accumulated power from his Body Refining roared through his body like a raging river.
He formed a sword-finger and jabbed it violently toward the Thunderstruck Grass!
BOOM-CRACK!
As if triggering the might of the heavens, the Thunderstruck Grass instantly exploded, transforming into a silver ball of lightning the size of a baby’s fist, so brilliant it was almost blinding!