Chapter 404 - 261: Hundred Refinement Spirit Puppet, Another Cultivation Breakthrough
Chapter 404: Chapter 261: Hundred Refinement Spirit Puppet, Another Cultivation Breakthrough
"After my breakthrough, the memories that were locked in my mind by a Secret Technique have been released. I can now access the Tier Two Upper Grade Puppet Inheritance that Grandfather promised. I’ll record it for you to see in a moment, husband."
Yan Mingyi, feeling much better, began to speak of the matter.
Lin Changheng slapped his forehead. He had actually almost forgotten about this. Puppet Master Yan’s will had stated that Lin Changheng was to take in Yan Mingyi for thirty years, or until she reached the Foundation Establishment Stage. In return, he would receive a Tier Two Puppet and a Tier Two Upper Grade Inheritance.
Back then, the latter two rewards had been a great temptation for him.
But now, nearly thirty years later, Lin Changheng’s strength was such that he could even kill a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator. As a result, he no longer craved these things so intensely.
"Alright."
Still, Lin Changheng nodded in agreement.
After all, it was a Tier Two Upper Grade Puppet Inheritance, so it was worth taking a look. Even though he had a professional Puppet Master by his side to refine puppets for him, understanding the craft would be a great help if he ever faced an enemy who controlled puppets.
...
「That night.」
After finishing his usual Body Forging, Lin Changheng was cultivating in his Seclusion Room.
He suddenly heard the sound of soft footsteps and assumed it was Yan Mingyi coming to deliver the newly recorded Inheritance Jade Scroll, so he neither used his Divine Sense nor opened his eyes.
But in the next instant, a soft breeze carried a light, delicate body that nestled firmly into his embrace.
Lin Changheng subconsciously caught her, only to feel the touch of soft, supple flesh.
"Mm..."
She was, quite clearly, naked.
Lin Changheng was a sharp man; he knew his cultivation would have to be postponed. He immediately went with the flow, leaning back and letting her do as she pleased.
’After all, she just broke through to the Foundation Establishment Stage. I can indulge her in this a little.’
...
「In the dead of night.」
Lin Changheng carried Yan Mingyi, who was so exhausted she’d nearly fainted, back to the bedroom. He, on the other hand, was completely unaffected. He returned to his Seclusion Room and began to examine the Jade Scroll she had offered while begging for mercy—a failed attempt at a truce.
’If she wanted to act like a Fox Demon and drain my Essence Qi, Yan Mingyi’s skills were still far too shallow. She wasn’t nearly strong enough.’
「A moment later.」
Lin Changheng withdrew his Divine Sense from the Jade Scroll.
The Inheritance was called the *Hundred Refinement Spirit Puppet Manual*!
A quick scan revealed that the Tier One Puppetry Skills were of average complexity; Lin Changheng could likely get the hang of them quickly. However, breaking through to Tier Two and achieving true mastery would be much more difficult.
After putting it away, Lin Changheng decided not to study or delve into it for the time being.
After all, Yan Mingyi’s Puppetry Skill was already on the verge of Tier Two.
Once she broke through to Tier Two and could refine numerous Tier Two Puppets, they would become one of his core combat assets. There was really no need for him to start studying it from scratch.
’What belongs to my concubine, belongs to me.’
Of that, there was no doubt.
Then, he resumed his Cultivation.
The *Jade Void Brilliance Scripture*, at the Realm of Perfection, began to circulate with immense power.
Lin Changheng had a faint feeling that his own breakthrough was approaching!
He had broken through to the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment at the age of eighty-five. Now, he was ninety-six, nearly ninety-seven!
After nearly twelve years, his accumulation was finally reaching its peak.
If he hadn’t cultivated this technique to the Realm of Perfection, the time required would have been drastically longer due to its inherently slow nature.
To this day, there was still no news of another breakthrough from Mo Zhaoli, who had reached the Middle Stage Foundation Establishment a year before him.
This showed just how difficult every step in the Foundation Establishment Stage was.
And it only became more so the further one progressed.
Fortunately, advancing between the Small Realms within a greater Realm involved no bottlenecks, which made things much easier.
As long as one had enough resources, it was only a matter of time before they could cultivate to the Sixth Layer Foundation Establishment, the Peak of Middle Stage Foundation Establishment.
But the less time one took, the more room they had for future growth and the greater their potential.
Of course, potential was just potential. It still had to be realized.
...
「On this day.」
Lin Changheng held a banquet, inviting his two neighboring Isle Masters to a small celebration for Yan Mingyi’s successful Foundation Establishment.
The banquet was held in a lakeside pavilion, offering a panoramic view of the water and mountains. Arrays of Spirit Fruits and fine dishes were laid out before them—all were specialties of Jade Belt Lake, supplemented by Spiritual Cuisine prepared by a chef sent by Cheng Suling. The air was filled with a rich, enticing aroma.
Cheng Suling was a remarkably perceptive woman. Seeing that only Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi lived on Moonrest Island, she figured the hosts of the banquet couldn’t possibly be expected to do all the work themselves.
So, she had sent a chef from her own island to help.
"Congratulations, Fairy Yan, on your successful Foundation Establishment and for taking another step upon the Great Dao! And my congratulations to you as well, Mr. Lin!"
Xu Maoling, still with the appearance of an old farmer, offered a simple and sincere smile. He raised his cup in a toast, presenting his gift: a pot of Calming Orchid he had cultivated himself, a plant quite beneficial for stabilizing one’s Foundation Establishment Realm.
"Congratulations to you both."
Cheng Suling, dressed in an aqua-green gown and as elegant as ever, smiled warmly. Her gift was a bottle of Stone Heart Earth Milk, effective for stabilizing one’s Magical Power and cleansing the body.
"Thank you, Mr. Xu, Fairy Cheng."
Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi raised their cups in a return toast. Now a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, Yan Mingyi’s demeanor had become even more poised and graceful.
Yan Mingyi had specially worn the "Bining" Jade Bracelet today, its verdant light shimmering and adding to her charm.
The atmosphere at the banquet was congenial.
Suddenly!
An exceptionally blinding, crimson Escape Light streaked across the horizon. The light appeared frantic and panicked, showing no regard for the usual tranquility above Jade Belt Lake. It tore through the sky in a near-reckless dash, heading straight for the neighboring Rising Sun Island!
This spectacle naturally caught the attention of the four people present.
Cheng Suling and Xu Maoling, in particular, exchanged a glance, a flicker of surprise and gravity in their eyes.
"Mr. Luo is in such a hurry... Could something have happened?"
"I don’t know either..."
The two began to communicate secretly via voice transmission, and awkward, hesitant expressions appeared on their faces.
"It’s alright. If you two have something to attend to, please don’t hesitate. That Fellow Daoist seems to be in a great hurry; you shouldn’t let it delay any important matters."