Chapter 407 - 262: Mutated Bloodline, Huang Family’s Goodwill
Chapter 407: Chapter 262: Mutated Bloodline, Huang Family’s Goodwill
"An invitation for me?"
Lin Changheng hadn’t expected it either.
After all, Elder Kong had just broken through to become a Tier Three Alchemist. His status and standing had soared, putting him almost on par with a Core Formation Master.
He was in a different league now. The people he associated with would be the core figures of Major Sects and Daoist Schools, and the Immortal Race.
For him to now invite an Independent Cultivator Alchemist like himself—whose status and power were somewhat lacking in comparison—showed that the man still had a personal touch.
There was, after all, a vast difference between maintaining a private acquaintance and being invited to such a major event.
The significance was completely different.
After some thought, Lin Changheng made his decision.
’I’ll go. It’ll be a good opportunity to broaden my horizons.’
In fact, this was remarkably similar to when he attended Mo Zhaoli’s Foundation Establishment Celebration back in his Qi Cultivation Stage. In both cases, he was attending a celebration for a higher circle with a lower status and power level.
He might seem out of place.
But so what?
Lin Changheng’s mental state was exceptionally polished, and with the blessing of his Celestial Gift of Clear Heart, he could remain completely unfazed.
...
The ceremony was in three months. Lin Changheng only set off quietly after finishing all his Alchemy work.
He still didn’t take his three Spirit Beasts with him on this trip.
The Deep Lake Spirit Clam and the Black Armored Earth Turtle continued to guard his home. Along with Yan Mingyi, the newly minted Foundation Establishment Cultivator, that made for three Tier Two combatants.
With the protection of the Array, they could handle any unexpected situations—like the one his neighbor had mentioned—with ease.
Defending Moonrest Island and protecting themselves would be no problem.
"AWOO!"
A tiger’s roar, still slightly juvenile yet already possessing a nascent majesty, echoed through the mountain forest.
A cyan shadow shot out from the dense woods like a bolt of lightning, landing steadily in the clearing before Lin Changheng’s cave residence.
It was an extraordinarily majestic Cyan-striped Tiger. Although not yet old, its body was already a size larger than that of a typical adult tiger.
Its fur wasn’t the brownish-yellow of a normal tiger, but a glossy mix of cyan and white, like the finest silk brocade, gleaming in the sunlight with the luster of Ancient Jade. The white "王" character marking on its forehead was clearly visible, exuding an innate, domineering aura.
Its four paws were sturdy, landing without a sound. Its long tail, like a steel whip, swished gently, stirring a faint breeze. Most striking were its eyes; they were bright and full of spirit, brimming with a Spiritual quality and intelligence. There was none of the cloudiness of a wild beast; instead, it seemed capable of thought.
At this moment, it held a fat Tier One Demon Beast—a Drilling Wild Boar—in its jaws, its neck precisely snapped. It had clearly just returned from a hunt.
Lin Changheng had intentionally kept some Tier One Demon Beasts in the back mountains—even purchasing some from outside—letting them roam free with the express purpose of cultivating the Cyan-striped Tiger’s wild nature and hunting skills.
As it was positioned to be the main combatant among his three Spirit Beasts, it naturally couldn’t be raised in the same way as the support-oriented Xiaobai, or Xiaohai, who specialized in Defense and companionship.
Seeing this just as he was about to leave, Lin Changheng immediately called Xiaoqing over.
"WHUFF!"
With another, more affectionate-sounding roar, a faint breeze kicked up beneath the Cyan-striped Tiger’s paws, and with a single bound, it was by Lin Changheng’s side.
It placed the prey before Lin Changheng, then affectionately rubbed its enormous head against him, showing its reluctance to see him go. It was a gesture for its master to take the prey along for a meal on the road.
"Hahaha!"
Lin Changheng laughed, scratching the massive tiger’s head a few times as if petting a cat. He indicated that it wasn’t necessary and that Xiaoqing could keep it to eat.
He then looked over the tiger cub he had adopted years ago, feeling a wave of emotion.
Clearly, after years of being fed Elixirs and nourished by the abundant Spiritual Qi of Moonrest Island, it had long since awakened its Spiritual Wisdom and embarked on the path of rapid Cultivation. Its strength had steadily increased, and it was now at the Tier One Middle Stage, comparable to a human Cultivator at Middle Stage Qi Cultivation.
What surprised him, however, was that Xiaoqing was starting to show differences from the two adult Cyan-striped Tigers he had seen back then.
The most obvious was its fur—a mix of cyan and white, but with an orderly pattern.
This gave him pause for thought.
’Could it be... some kind of mutation has occurred? Or perhaps those two Cyan-striped Tigers weren’t the cubs’ parents at all.’
He harbored doubts but had no way to verify them, so he didn’t dwell on it.
’Once this tiger reaches Tier Two and I can take a blood sample, this mystery will be unveiled.’
...
Lin Changheng directly used the Water Shadow Stealth Technique to travel through the water before summoning his Dharma Ship to fly.
「About half a day later.」
A familiar mountain range appeared before Lin Changheng.
They stood majestic and imposing, like countless green blades piercing the clouds. The slopes were steep, with cliffs as sheer as if they were carved. The central peak was perpetually shrouded in mist from the waist up, resembling a celestial mountain.
Spirit Dome Mountain!
The Huang Family’s Spirit Dome Mountain!
A quick glance at the Huang Family’s Headquarters showed that the smoke of war had dissipated; it seemed to be in the process of recovery.
After a moment’s consideration, Lin Changheng turned his Dharma Ship and flew directly toward the Huang Family’s Mountain Gate.
As he landed, he saw that the simple, ancient stone stele still stood at the entrance, inscribed with the four powerful words "Spirit Dome Blessed Land." However, the two words for "Spirit Dome" bore the clear scrape marks of an Artifact, and stone fragments had flaked off.
Evidently, the enemy had actually pushed all the way to the Mountain Gate—a very dangerous sign. It meant the Huang Family’s Defense had been breached head-on, and the flames of war had once reached their very heartland.
"Excuse me, Elder, may I ask your purpose for visiting our clan?"
A Mountain Guard Disciple wearing the standard Huang Family uniform, his Cultivation at Late Stage Qi Cultivation, walked out from within the Array and strode forward.
Seeing that Lin Changheng’s aura was deep and profound—clearly a Foundation Establishment Elder—his tone was respectful, but his eyes held an unconcealable exhaustion and a trace of vigilance.