Immortality and Cultivation: Starting with Harvesting the Talents of Demonic Beasts

Chapter 166: Cultivation Technique Acquired, Xuan Yan Advances?
Only Huang Linglin attended this meeting.

According to her, Chef Zeng was unable to attend today because he had returned to his hometown.

Lin Changheng didn't care about that; what he cared about was the outcome Huang Linglin brought.

Unexpectedly, Huang Linglin was even more anxious than him. Before Lin Changheng could even bring out the spirit tea and spirit fruit, she had already spoken:
"Master Lin, when we returned last time, we managed to contact the ancestor within the meridian..."

"What did the patriarch of your noble lineage say?"

Lin Changheng asked with a smile.

"The Ancestor highly values ​​Master Lin. Although this matter is against the rules, after careful consideration, the Ancestor still overruled the objections and agreed!"

Huang Linglin changed into a red gauze dress, which covered her fair and voluptuous body, giving her a unique charm. Her eyes were bright as she smiled and told Lin Changheng the good news.

Lin Changheng immediately recognized this speaking technique of using a contrast between praise and criticism to highlight the difficult situation and demonstrate the importance the patriarch placed on it.

But he didn't care about any of that; he only focused on the key point: "You agree?"

The martial arts technique that I had been searching for in vain has finally been found here?

“Agreed,” Huang Linglin nodded, “but Ancestor has one condition.”

"What conditions?" Lin Changheng frowned slightly; he was extremely averse to situations where additional conditions were added.

"The techniques must not be passed on to outsiders."

Huang Linglin uttered six words that immediately eased Lin Changheng's brow. What kind of condition was this? It was something that should be expected.

But then he thought again, since his cultivation level was only at the ninth level of Qi Refining, this technique could be obtained not only for himself but also for others.

The former is easy to deal with, but the latter is bound to have a risk of leakage, so the conditions need to be stated in advance.

Then the woman continued, her full lips parting, "Originally, the ancestor intended to take out a certain second-tier high-grade fire-type cultivation technique from the clan, but he encountered fierce opposition. He believed that clan secrets should not be leaked. This is an ironclad rule of family inheritance, a rule of the ancestors, and even he could not forcibly disobey it."

"The ancestor was thus caught in a dilemma and deep thought. But since he had made a promise to Alchemist Lin to choose any of his disciples, the ancestor did not want to break his word. Fortunately, he suddenly remembered that he had unexpectedly obtained a second-tier high-grade cultivation technique while traveling. It was also of the fire element! So he took it out and planned to give it to Alchemist Lin as a welcoming gift for his entry into the clan!"

"Oh? This time, the cultivation technique was given without any objection?"

Lin Changheng asked with a forced smile.

Huang Linglin immediately gave a wry smile, "There was indeed opposition, because this technique has been put into the clan treasury, so it is considered a family property. However, the opposition has become much smaller. In addition, this technique was found by the ancestor, so he should have the right to dispose of it. Moreover, it is not a secret technique passed down in the clan. Therefore, the ancestor overruled the objections and forced it to pass."

As she spoke, a hint of resentment appeared on her face again.

Lin Changheng gleaned some insight from these few words: "There are indeed many obstacles and undercurrents of conflict among the various branches of the Huang family in Lingqiong Mountain."

"I wonder what this technique is called?"

"The Jade Void Bright Scripture!"

……

Lin Changheng eventually agreed to the woman's invitation.

He decided to become a retainer of the "Huang Family of Lingqiong Mountain".

The main driving force was the "Jade Void Bright Scripture," a second-tier superior cultivation technique that sounded somewhat incomprehensible, and the nominal but irresponsible offering model.

But when Huang Linglin asked him when he planned to visit the clan and perhaps study the scriptures, she was interrupted by Lin Changheng's surprised voice.
"I am old, over sixty years old, and I am afraid I cannot run that far. Please send someone to bring the technique to me so I can take a look."

Lin Changheng had no intention of leaving Immortal City, nor did he want to rashly go to a family he had never been to before.

Especially after what happened last time, he became even more cautious and did not want to become a Danu controlled by others.

"That... is fine!"

Huang Linglin had no choice but to give in at this critical juncture, not wanting all her efforts to be in vain.

She had already gritted her teeth and made up her mind, so she complied with him on all the little things.

……

Half a month passed.

Lin Changheng took some time to visit the herbal shop.

After all, Cheng Dan and his master had worked hard to promote foundation-building clients for him and had also contributed a lot to the "fame-making" part of his core foundation-building plan, for which Lin Changheng would naturally not forget.

He not only gave "Junior Brother Cheng" guidance on alchemy, but also made it clear that if he encountered any difficulties or confusion in alchemy in the future, he could come and ask him.

Furthermore, she deliberately chose to appear when there were many customers at the [Herbal Shop] and under the public eye, and was "accidentally" recognized, causing a sensation.

Then he openly admitted in public that Baicaopu was opened by his "senior brother" and "junior brother".

This is her way of giving back by using her own reputation to promote and enhance the fame of [Baicaopu].

Although Lin Changheng only touched on the point and didn't say much, it was enough. Many cultivators would fill in the rest by word of mouth and during their leisure time, and they would do it even better than he did.

As expected, the already well-established and reputable [Herbal Shop] became popular again, with customers flocking to buy elixirs, greatly expanding its customer base.

As a result, the business of the entire [Herbal Shop] flourished, and within half a year, it showed signs of expanding again.

Looking at the constant stream of customers at his alchemy shop, Master Cheng was delighted: "The best thing I've done in the past twenty years was getting to know Chang Heng and helping him with a small favor."

"Yes, Master Lin is highly skilled and of noble character. He is my role model!" Junior Brother Cheng couldn't help but exclaim, his eyes full of respect.

"There are countless cultivators in this world, but how many are like Changheng, with a heart as fiery as fire and a deep sense of loyalty and righteousness?" Master Cheng stroked his beard, his gaze distant and his emotions profound. He turned to his son and solemnly instructed him, "You are fortunate to be guided by Changheng on the path of alchemy. He is not your master, but he is better than your master. You should always treat him with the respect due to a master."

“I understand, son.” Junior Brother Cheng nodded vigorously.

At the same time, they also continuously built up Lin Changheng's reputation and image.

As a result, Lin Danshi, who was highly respected for his profound second-level alchemy skills, once again received unanimous high praise from the cultivators of the Immortal City for his "noble character".

For Lin Changheng, it was simply a case of "fame falling from the sky while he was sitting at home."

Of course, these are all things for later.

……

On the other side, Lin Changheng was carrying the second-tier [Spiritual Essence Rejuvenation Pill] that he had refined for Master Yan Kui, and was handing it over to the Yan family grandfather and grandson.

They were naturally invited to stay for a meal.

During the meal, Lin Changheng also told him that he was going to move away from Yunjianque to a high-class cave dwelling on the outer lake.

Say goodbye while you're at it.

Before long, the Huang family's cultivation method will be delivered, at which time Lin Changheng will have to devote himself to cultivating it.

This places high demands on the grade and quality of the spiritual energy.

The first-tier spiritual vein here is definitely not enough for him; in fact, it might even hinder him.

Only the second-tier mid-grade spiritual energy from the outer lake cave can be effective, and it also enhances cultivation efficiency.

Besides, everything here is settled, there's no need for us to stay any longer. "Brother Lin..."

Upon hearing this, Yan Mingyi's eyes showed reluctance.

Reaching out to ruffle his hair, Lin Changheng chuckled and said, "No need for that. Your brother Lin hasn't left this Floating Life Immortal City; he's just moved to a different place. If you need anything, just come find me."

Then he told the two their exact address.

……

Time flies, and two years have passed in the blink of an eye.

That year, Lin Changheng was nearly sixty-three years old.

In the quiet room of Cave No. 98 in Waihu.

The spiritual energy, like smoke and mist, flowed slowly in the room. The [Spirit Gathering Array] operated continuously, drawing all the spiritual energy of heaven and earth near the cave and turning it into wisps of spiritual mist that swirled around Lin Changheng.

He sat cross-legged, his hands forming a mudra, his breathing long and deep. Each breath caused the surrounding spiritual energy to tremble slightly, rising and falling like the tide.

The intensity and strength are far beyond what was achieved during the previous Qi Refining stage.

However, this [Spirit Gathering Array] is still a first-grade superior-level array, not a second-grade array.

Because this formation is for attracting, gathering, and transporting spiritual energy, there is no essential change no matter how high its grade is. The spiritual energy in the cave is already abundant, and it is a mid-grade second-order formation. It only needs to be slightly guided and gathered, which is enough.

"The Jade Void Bright Scripture..."

Lin Changheng's face was calm as he focused on his cultivation, a hint of satisfaction showing between his brows.

As the cultivation technique was activated, strands of spiritual energy were drawn into the body, flowing along the meridians. After twelve cycles, the energy was refined and collected in the dantian in the form of droplets.

Since acquiring the Jade Void Bright Scripture, Lin Changheng has been studying and practicing it diligently, mastering the basics at an extremely fast pace, and has now reached the [Proficient] level.

And it vaguely touches on the category of "proficiency".

This is extremely rapid progress. If the Foundation Establishment cultivators who received the techniques from the Huang family knew about it, they would probably be very surprised.

Second-tier superior cultivation techniques are different from inferior and middle-tier techniques of the same tier. They have their own threshold, are more difficult to cultivate, and progress is slower.

He put this method into the clan treasury, and two newly promoted fire magic foundation-building cultivators subsequently planned to learn it.

As a result, one person gave up quickly, and the other person also switched to another project halfway through.

Although the foundation is solid and the achievement is remarkable, the process is indeed grueling, lacking strong positive feedback, and requires testing one's patience and will to follow the path.

One of them switched to a second-tier high-grade cultivation technique that allowed for rapid progress and was relatively easy to learn. This technique enabled them to quickly accumulate the foundation for the Foundation Establishment stage. However, this technique had its drawbacks: it lacked protective measures and had weak self-defense capabilities. It was not able to withstand wind and rain and was prone to premature death in the event of an accident.

In other words, he could easily be killed by a cultivator with a lower cultivation level but more powerful methods.

In the cultivation world where resources are fiercely contested, some people are out of place and need to live a life of hiding, unless they have powerful resources supporting them.

That's fine, but this type of cultivation method has another major flaw: it's difficult to form a true elixir.

Without special opportunities, even if one successfully forms a core, it will most likely only result in a fake core.

Pseudo-Core cultivators not only have shorter lifespans than True Core and Golden Core cultivators, but they are also much weaker and their cultivation path is interrupted. However, thanks to the transformation in their cultivation level, they can easily bully late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators.

However, many Foundation Establishment families are eager to acquire such a talent, such as the Huang family, which desperately needs a Pseudo-Core Formation cultivator to enter the ranks of aristocratic families.

Another Huang family cultivator who switched to cultivation halfway through his training chose the family's inherited cultivation method, which allows for rapid progress and is incredibly powerful and terrifying!
However, the resource consumption is staggering, and even a family like the Huang family cannot support or provide it. They need to frequently venture into secret realms and dangerous places to fight for resources!
Moreover, it has many restrictions and is extremely dangerous to cultivate, but the high points are also extremely tempting, with the highest level being the Golden Core!
It can be said that it has an extremely high potential.

The third type is the "Jade Void Bright Scripture".

This cultivation method is quite difficult to master, and the speed of magical power improvement is average. However, it has powerful side techniques and methods, which greatly enhance self-protection and provide considerable combat ability. It can be used to protect one's path or to fight for one's family.

This cultivation method has the potential to forge a true elixir, but the accumulation during the Foundation Establishment stage is extremely difficult, and even in the later stages of Foundation Establishment, it is not easy to achieve.

Chef Zeng had made this clear to him in person, as it was the request of the patriarch of the lineage. He had to explain the pros and cons to Lin Changheng in advance, or perhaps they could change the terms.

But Lin Changheng had no other choice.

Second-tier superior cultivation techniques are extremely rare, and he had finally obtained this technique, so naturally he would not give it up easily.

Otherwise, there would be no point in joining the Huang family.

After careful consideration and comparison, he still firmly chose this method. The reasons are as follows:
The first type of cultivation technique is unable to protect oneself, which is a fatal flaw for Lin Changheng. With the second-level alchemy in hand, he is just a fat sheep and should not be chosen.

The second type of cultivation method, although it has a high upper limit, is inherently dangerous to cultivate and requires a massive amount of resources. Even a second-level alchemist would certainly not be able to support it. In fact, it can only be found in secret realms and dangerous places, forcing one to explore everywhere. This also goes against Lin Changheng's steady approach and is not an option.

Only the third type of cultivation method is quite difficult to cultivate, and the speed of magical power improvement is average. It has obvious shortcomings, but it has strong self-protection ability. Moreover, with the support of seven layers of [Original Treasure Seed] and a long lifespan, the so-called defects do not seem so obvious.

Therefore, this decision was made!

Chef Zeng was only there to give a reminder. Seeing that Lin Changheng had made a decision, he said nothing more and immediately went back to arrange for the execution of the law.

……

Suddenly, Lin Changheng frowned slightly, and the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] in the center of his dantian suddenly surged, a scorching aura spreading from his body, causing the temperature in the quiet room to rise sharply, and even the air to distort slightly.

His robes fluttered without wind, his hair flew, and crimson flames flickered around him, making him look like a god sitting amidst fire.

"Om-"

His magical power and flames suddenly surged, then quickly returned to calm.

He slowly opened his eyes, a flash of dark golden flame appearing briefly before returning to its deep gaze.

Lin Changheng was not surprised by the scene that had just occurred. In fact, this kind of scene would appear several times every time he cultivated.

It could even be described as an unexpected delight.

When cultivating the Jade Void Bright Scripture, one will not only refine spiritual energy and accumulate magical power, but also generate a special crimson true essence.

This crimson true essence can be added to fire-based techniques, spells, and secret arts!

It can unleash even greater power! It enhances combat abilities!
After Lin Changheng discovered this, he realized that the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame], which had always been firmly located in his dantian, was about to stir.

It was constantly conveying to him a subtle yet urgent fluctuation.

Lin Changheng was immediately stunned. "Is this... a desire?"

He immediately mobilized the crimson true essence within his body and wandered to the side of the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame].

Instantly, flames exploded as the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] swallowed the crimson true essence, while its power emanated outwards, and a scorching aura spread from his body!

Then, Lin Changheng realized—

The Crimson Sky Profound Flame has undergone subtle changes, as if it has been enhanced!

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(End of this chapter)