Chapter 180 - 158: Fame in the Immortal City, Nameless Essence Blood (Part 2)
Chapter 180: Chapter 158: Fame in the Immortal City, Nameless Essence Blood (Part 2)
Take Xu Xujun of the Xu Family, for instance. As the family’s sole Foundation Establishment Cultivator and their anchor, he rarely got involved in worldly affairs, instead dedicating himself to diligent cultivation in their core Dao Field.
Reviving the Pill Hall, on the other hand, would inevitably involve him in many worldly affairs. He likely wouldn’t be able to avoid cooperating with certain decisions. At that point, he would be bogged down by miscellaneous tasks, scattering his Energy and making a cultivation breakthrough an even more distant dream.
The thought of potentially having to work under the watchful eyes of Core Formation and Fake Core Cultivators made Lin Changheng even more resistant to the idea.
’It’s basically impossible for me to agree.’
...
Lin Changheng then considered the first two types of messages.
’Pill Seekers are fine, of course. I can deal with them.’
’But as for those looking to recruit me... forget it.’
Why had he left the Xu Family when he was doing perfectly fine there? First, he had no freedom. Second, the truly good things would never fall into his hands; he could wait in line for a decade and it still wouldn’t be his turn.
’What was the point of staying, then? Just to earn Spirit Stones and common resources?’
’As a free and unrestrained Loose Cultivator, I can befriend cultivators from all walks of life and still earn plenty through alchemy, can’t I?’
’The only exception would be if someone could tempt me with sufficient benefits or a rare Treasure.’
...
"Brother Lin, it’s been a while. When can you come over to my place for a meal? My grandfather has mentioned you often over the past six months."
Yan Mingyi asked.
"Of course. Once I’ve taken care of some old business, I’ll be sure to pay you a visit."
Lin Changheng didn’t refuse, nodding with a smile.
"Then it’s a deal."
Smiling, Yan Mingyi said her farewells and departed.
Lin Changheng remained seated, unmoving, as if lost in thought. Suddenly, he retrieved a Communication Jade Scroll from his Storage Bag.
After engraving a message onto it with his Divine Sense, he flicked his hand. The scroll shot through the restriction above the courtyard and whizzed away.
...
「At dusk.」
A figure in a golden robe arrived silently and was about to knock.
"The door is ajar. Just push it open and come in."
Just as the gold-robed figure raised his hand, a soft, transmitted voice entered his ears.
"Yes!"
Though surprised, he had no reason to doubt it. He simply assumed his footsteps had been detected by Alchemist Lin. After replying in a low voice, he gently pushed the door open and entered.
There, at the stone table in the courtyard, a figure in a green robe—someone he hadn’t seen in over half a year—was watching him with a faint smile.
"Changsheng, you’re here?"
Hearing this still-familiar address, Deng Changsheng’s face twitched. He was overwhelmed with a mix of shock and delight. Half a year ago, Alchemist Lin had made a huge name for himself in the Immortal City with a single cauldron of Foundation Establishment Pills. Major influences and Foundation Establishment Cultivators were lining up for an audience to no avail, yet he had sent a private message requesting to see him!
What an incredible honor! His heart pounded with ecstasy!
He had even thought for a time that he would never again be able to get close to a personage like Alchemist Lin. After all, the man’s status was now lofty beyond compare. How could he possibly still care about a mere Qi Cultivation Loose Cultivator like him? For the tasks Alchemist Lin had previously assigned him, plenty of Loose Cultivators at the Peak of Ninth Level Qi Cultivation would now fight tooth and nail for the chance to do them. He could even mobilize Foundation Establishment Cultivators!
During that time, his world had seemed much grayer.
But this single word, "Changsheng," had pulled him straight from the grayness and into the light.
’He still remembers me! He still cares about me! He still calls me by my name!!!’
"Greetings, Alchemist Lin!"
Deng Changsheng was incredibly emotional. He cupped his fists in a salute and bowed respectfully, bending nearly ninety degrees.
"Eh? Changsheng, what is the meaning of this? Come, sit down."
Lin Changheng raised an eyebrow, a thoughtful look in his eyes, before speaking in a tone of feigned confusion.
"Yes."
Deng Changsheng didn’t explain, simply complying at once.
He walked to the table, and his expression suddenly turned serious. "Does Alchemist Lin have any tasks for me? Please, just give the order. I am at your command and will not hesitate in the slightest."
"Just sit down. I did indeed have something I wanted to see you about, Changsheng."
’How could I not understand the intention behind his words and actions, or the attitude he’s trying to convey?’
He remained noncommittal, simply pointing to the stone stool with a smile.
"Please, speak." Deng Changsheng’s blatant display of loyalty had received no direct response, leaving him unable to grasp the Pill Master’s true thoughts. He could only remain respectful.
"There are two things, specifically."
"First, has there been any follow-up on the Profound Spirit Essence Blood?"
"Second, our neighbor, ’Fairy Cui.’ I have some interest in her. I was wondering if you know anything about her background, Changsheng?"
Lin Changheng blew the tea leaves aside, took a light sip, and asked nonchalantly.
Deng Changsheng, who had expected some difficult task, immediately broke into a smile. "There has indeed been follow-up on the Profound Spirit Essence Blood. It’s just that Alchemist Lin hasn’t been home recently, so I had no way to present it to you."
As he spoke, Deng Changsheng slapped his Storage Bag and took out sixteen vials of Essence Blood.
He arranged them in two rows on the stone table. The contents shimmered with a brilliant golden light, instantly capturing Lin Changheng’s attention.
Then, Deng Changsheng scratched his head and added with a casual smile, "My friend was short on Spirit Stones at the time and needed them urgently, so he insisted I pay for these upfront."
"I owe you for that! But please, Changsheng, feel free to cover the cost upfront in the future. I’ll take as much of this Essence Blood as you can find."
How could Lin Changheng not know he was looking for credit? He immediately played along and offered a word of praise.
’It’s just a few words. Why be stingy? Yet so many people don’t understand this, treating praise as if it were gold.’
On second thought, he realized that while some Demon Beasts with a Profound Spirit Bloodline were still Tier One, many could break through to Tier Two, and the price of their Essence Blood varied greatly.
Tier One Profound Spirit Essence Blood cost around fifteen Lower Grade Spirit Stones per vial, while Tier Two blood went for nearly fifty.
After all, the gap between them was a gap in life-form hierarchy, representing an earth-shattering difference in strength and a skyrocketing risk to acquire it!
In other words, Deng Changsheng had fronted eight hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones for this. For a Qi Cultivation Cultivator, that was no small sum.
Lin Changheng immediately took out the Spirit Stones to repay Deng Changsheng, adding a little extra.
’I can’t have someone who runs errands for me breaking a sweat and spending his own Spirit Stones, can I?’
Only then did he collect all the Essence Blood. He calculated inwardly that he had now accumulated one hundred and twelve vials.
"This seems to be too much..."
Deng Changsheng noticed the amount was incorrect.
"You’ve done quite a lot for me. Consider it a bonus," Lin Changheng said lightly.
"Thank you, Alchemist Lin."
Deng Changsheng was overjoyed. It wasn’t the extra Spirit Stones that pleased him, but the attitude Lin Changheng revealed through these small details—how he treated people and handled his affairs.
Responsive, generous, not demanding...
It further solidified his resolve to work for Lin Changheng, even to the death.
He then told Lin Changheng everything he knew about Cui Jianshui’s background without the slightest hesitation.
He held nothing back.
But after listening, Lin Changheng frowned.
Because from Deng Changsheng’s perspective, the woman’s reputation was surprisingly clean.
Not only was her personal history spotless, but her conduct at the Immortal Sound Pavilion was as well.
She wasn’t like some of the other Music Fairies, who were known to be promiscuous.
His friend had specifically commented on this, as he had pursued her for half a year without success.
Deng Changsheng himself had often been involved, helping his friend strategize.
"Do you happen to know a Cultivator named Gu Chang’an? He came to me seeking a Pill before."
Lin Changheng asked.
"I don’t know him."
Deng Changsheng was taken aback. "Could he have some connection to Fairy Cui?"
Lin Changheng shook his head. He saw Deng Changsheng out, warning him not to speak of this to anyone.
After a long moment, he murmured, "Interesting."
However, he had no interest in playing detective and investigating the truth.
He had already decided to go to a shop in the Inner City tomorrow to purchase a widely circulated and extremely practical Tier Two Secret Technique.
It was called the Soul Searching Skill, and it might just come in handy.
...
「That night.」
Inside his room, Lin Changheng laid out a table full of Profound Spirit Essence Blood of unknown origin, preparing to absorb them.
Deng Changsheng’s friend, worried about being exposed and bringing trouble upon himself, hadn’t revealed the specific details. But that was no problem for Lin Changheng.
’As long as the quality of the Essence Blood is genuine, it’s fine.’
This was also a key reason why all of this blood had ended up in his hands.
SWOOSH!
Lin Changheng connected with his Primordial Cauldron and began the Spirit Stealing process.
No new Treasure Seed appeared. Instead, the Treasure Seed representing the Fire-tailed Golden Rat began to tremble violently.
At the same time, a piece of information entered his perception.
[Fire-tailed Golden Rat Treasure Seed: Fifth Layer]
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Metamorphosis: 10/10]
...
[Essence Blood Full. Metamorphosis Success!]
[Fire-Tailed Golden Rat True Core: Supreme]