Eternal Life: I Can Harvest Demon Beast Talents

A thought flashed through Lin Changheng's mind, and the faint smile on his face faded. "Cautious? Fellow Daoist, what makes you say that?"

"Heh heh!"

The old Daoist Wu Jiu raised his cup to Lin Changheng again, twitched his nose, and squinted his drunken eyes. "A moment ago, Fellow Daoist, you didn't use your Divine Sense, but you did use some sort of special Spiritual Eye to look me over from head to toe."

"If this old Daoist's perception weren't so keen, given how exquisite your Divine Abilities are, I'm afraid not even a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator would have noticed a thing."

As he spoke, he downed another cup of Spirit Wine. He then reached for the wine pot, only to find it was empty.

Immediately, his gaze toward Lin Changheng held a trace of disappointment.

Lin Changheng raised an eyebrow slightly and sent a voice transmission directly to the Palace Attire Female Cultivator waiting outside. A moment later, he heard the soft sound of footsteps quickly departing.

Then he said coolly, "Since I am the host, I can certainly afford a bit of Spirit Wine. I can't promise an endless supply, but I won't let Fellow Daoist leave unsatisfied."

"Fellow Daoist is truly generous and magnanimous! This old Daoist is truly fortunate to have made your acquaintance."

The old Daoist Wu Jiu laughed heartily, looking at Lin Changheng with delight.

After saying this, Lin Changheng directly changed the subject. "I wonder, is your perception so keen because you've learned a special Secret Technique, or is it an innate talent?"

His "Divine Light" probe, a technique formed from the Three Techniques Combined based on his Insight Skill, had almost never failed or been detected before. Yet now, a scruffy old Daoist of the same cultivation level had noticed it while absorbed in his drink.

It stunned him, and he couldn't help but want to probe the man further.

"Senior, here is the 'Biyun Burnt' you requested. Please, enjoy."

Just then, the Palace Attire Female Cultivator entered with a tray, her delicate hands bringing the Spirit Wine to Lin Changheng.

Lin Changheng glanced up slightly and nodded. He noticed the girl was quite beautiful, and her pair of glistening, lovely eyes were currently looking at him with curiosity and admiration.

"Thank you. You may leave."

He immediately gave her a gentle, warm smile.

The Palace Attire Female Cultivator bit her red lip lightly with her pearly teeth, gave a gentle curtsy, and quietly departed.

The old Daoist Wu Jiu didn't even lift his eyelids, nor did Lin Changheng sense him release his Divine Sense, yet it was as if he had seen everything. "Tsk tsk, is this the treatment one gets for being so dashing and handsome? This old Daoist has never been looked at so tenderly by a Female Cultivator."

"You still haven't answered my question, Fellow Daoist."

Lin Changheng remained noncommittal and pressed his earlier question.

"Heh heh, it's a Secret Technique, of course."

The old Daoist Wu Jiu said bluntly, and before Lin Changheng could speak, he continued, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist wishes to learn it? I must say, for a cautious person like yourself, this technique would indeed be a great boon."

"At the very least, you could avoid some dangers in advance."

These words hit the nail on the head, directly addressing Lin Changheng's key need.

Hearing this, how could Lin Changheng not understand the old Daoist Wu Jiu's intention? But the more obvious it was, the more a sliver of vigilance arose in his heart.

On the surface, however, he still said, "To be honest, I am indeed interested. I wonder... what are your intentions, Fellow Daoist?"

Lin Changheng knew full well there was no such thing as a free lunch. He deliberately prompted the other party to state his conditions, using the opportunity to glimpse his true objective.

The old Daoist Wu Jiu chuckled. The drunkenness in his eyes vanished, replaced by a solemnity completely different from his previous demeanor. At the same time, he waved a hand to set up an Isolation Array.

"Fellow Daoist is a straightforward man. This Secret Technique of mine, while not some earth-shattering Great Divine Ability, is a 'Change Technique' that I developed and reconstructed based on an 'Ancient Strange Skill' after years of trial and error. It is not something I would normally pass on to others."

He paused, observing Lin Changheng's expression, then continued, "However, this old Daoist finds you agreeable, and we also share a 'wine-forged' bond. I can teach you this technique, but on two conditions."

"Please state them, Fellow Daoist." Lin Changheng's expression remained unchanged, but he sneered inwardly, his vigilance growing even stronger.

"First," the old Daoist Wu Jiu held up a finger, "this technique is not to be recorded in a Jade Scroll, only passed down by word of mouth. You must guarantee that no third person will learn of it. This old Daoist requires three thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones as payment for teaching it."

Hearing this, Lin Changheng's Heart and Spirit relaxed slightly.

For a unique Secret Skill, this price wasn't outrageous; it could even be considered a bit cheap.

'If this Skill really is what I think it is...'

"Second," the old Daoist Wu Jiu held up a second finger, his tone growing even more solemn, "I will need you, Fellow Daoist, to use your Exotic Fire to help me refine something."

Exotic Fire!

The moment the words left his mouth, the atmosphere in the room grew tense, as if the very air had frozen.

Lin Changheng's previously calm gaze suddenly became as sharp as a blade. The gentle aura around him vanished in an instant, replaced by an invisible, ice-cold pressure that spread through the room. The cups on the table even trembled slightly.

The Red Sky Profound Flame hidden deep within his body seemed to sense its master's state of mind and stirred restlessly.

This was his most deeply hidden trump card, a secret that absolutely no outsider could ever know! He had never revealed it to anyone. The people who had witnessed him use his Exotic Fire... had all long since been turned to ash, not even bones remaining!

Yet this seemingly scruffy and crazed old Daoist had exposed it in a single sentence! How could Lin Changheng not be shocked?

In that instant, killing intent surged through him, almost uncontrollably. The temperature in the room seemed to drop by several degrees.

The old Daoist Wu Jiu seemed completely oblivious, still wearing that slightly drunken expression. He picked up the wine pot on his own, poured himself another cup, and said slowly:

"There's no need to be so tense, Fellow Daoist. This old Daoist has no ill intentions, nor am I trying to pry into your secrets. It's just..."

He took a sip of wine and pointed to his own nose. "This old Daoist's Spiritual Sense became exceptionally sensitive after I once encountered an Exotic Fire of the ultimate yin, and I memorized its aura. Although you've hidden yours extremely well, Fellow Daoist, when your Magical Power fluctuated slightly a moment ago, a trace of that supremely yang, pure, yet latently frenzied fire-aura was released. It's completely different from the ultimate yin Exotic Fire I encountered before, but it's just as powerful. It couldn't escape this old Daoist's notice."