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

Chapter 167 Nine Levels of Origin, Special Physique

Having discovered this, Lin Changheng carefully observed and arrived at this conclusion that greatly surprised him.

When the essence blood of the Crimson Crane was seized, the Crimson Demon Flame would undergo a transformation with each additional layer it gained.

The final [Crimson Sky Demon Flame - Fifth Layer] is comparable to earth fire, and Lin Changheng is now certain that the previous one was a second-tier low-grade power.

The [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] that later transformed was a mid-grade second-tier flame! It skipped another minor tier! No wonder it was so powerful.

However, the fire ceased to grow or transform afterward.

Now, the Jade Void Bright Scripture has actually provided a feasible path to enhance this strange fire.

This also gave Lin Changheng an opportunity.

Over the past two years, the [Crimson True Essence] that Lin Changheng cultivated would immediately merge into the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] and be devoured by the latter.

Although each increase was very small, after two years of continuous nourishment, the changes in the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] were already quite remarkable. Lin Changheng estimated that it was not far from transforming into a second-tier high-grade flame.

This was what surprised him.

This will greatly enhance their ability to protect themselves and fight.

However, his progress in magical power was much slower. Back then, Mo Zhaoli took six years to cross a minor level. Lin Changheng estimated that even with the support of pills, the difference in the nature of his cultivation technique and spiritual root meant that the time required for his breakthrough might be similar to Mo Zhaoli's, or even longer.

"It's okay if it's slow; it's not like we've never been slow before."

Lin Changheng lived a long life, his mind became increasingly peaceful, and he had long since let go of worldly concerns.

Being too hasty is actually detrimental to longevity.

……

When Lin Changheng moved into the cave dwelling, he took the initiative to visit several neighbors with a gift basket.

He explained that he had previously lent his cave dwelling to a family friend to help him break through to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Later, when family and friends encountered trouble and left in a hurry, I moved here.

The neighbors had no doubts about this, since it was quite common for family cultivators to quietly go out to establish their foundation.

Not to mention the stability of spiritual vein supply, there is also the possibility of encountering deliberate attacks and sabotage from rival families in an attempt to cause one's foundation building to fail. Such situations are not uncommon.

However, they did not look down on Lin Changheng because he was not a Foundation Establishment cultivator. After all, anyone who could live in this high-level cave dwelling on the outer lake, if not a Foundation Establishment cultivator, must be a cultivator with second-tier skills. They might need his services at any time and ask him to come to their door.

Having more friends means having more options; don't narrow your path.

During the ensuing casual conversation, upon learning of Lin Changheng's name, the other party immediately raised an eyebrow and asked in surprise, "Could it be that Fellow Daoist Lin is the renowned Alchemist Lin of the Immortal City in recent years?"

"It should be me," Lin Changheng chuckled. "But please take the praise with a grain of salt. It's just that my friends in the inner city are flattering me. Don't take it too seriously."

"So it really is Master Lin Dan! I've heard so much about him, but seeing him in person is much better. I never imagined I'd have the chance to be his neighbor!"

Basically, every Foundation Establishment cultivator was pleasantly surprised upon learning that Lin Changheng was an alchemist.

Their attitudes became more enthusiastic, some even with a hint of flattery.

The middle-aged second-tier talisman master who lived on the left was also quite kind.

However, the second-level alchemist in front of him put on airs, acting like a senior and looking down on Lin Changheng, advising him not to be too sharp and to focus on studying alchemy.

Lin Changheng saw the "rivalry among peers" in this, with the lower-ranking looking down on the higher-ranking and the higher-ranking being jealous. He immediately put on an "you're right" attitude, had no intention of engaging in a verbal dispute, and quickly took his leave.

After leaving, I silently added this person to my blacklist and never bothered to have anything to do with them again.

……

After completing his cultivation, Lin Changheng emerged from seclusion.

He went straight to his herb garden and inspected the seven second-tier precious plants he had planted.

Two of them were the previously mentioned [Earth Vein Solomon's Seal] and [Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma], while the latter were harvested from several spiritual herbs with dried roots by other Foundation Establishment cultivators during their quest for elixirs.

These withered roots, devoid of any life, are useless to others, but they are a good thing to Lin Changheng.

The true meaning of 【Rongsheng Divine Power】is directly embedded into the magic power and can revive second-tier spiritual plants.

These roots revived and were planted in the sacred field.

Lin Changheng comes every night to help the fertilized egg mature, and the progress is encouraging.

In particular, the rhizome of that [Earth Vein Polygonatum] plant is already sixteen years old.

The second leaf of the Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma is almost fully grown.

The other five precious plants are also four or five years old.

However, every time Lin Changheng left the herb garden, his steps were somewhat unsteady, as if he had been hollowed out.

From then on, Lin Changheng began to instill his ideas into those seeking elixirs, saying that according to his latest pharmacological research, harvesting and preserving medicinal plants along with their roots could greatly preserve their medicinal properties and help improve the quality of the elixirs.

Otherwise, not only will the medicinal properties be more easily lost, but there is also a risk of reducing the quality of the pill.

Upon hearing this, and knowing it concerned the quality of the pills, and especially since it came from Alchemist Lin, the Foundation Establishment cultivators seeking the pills were complete novices. Furthermore, given Lin Changheng's renowned reputation, they had no doubts and kept it in mind, secretly resolving to pay attention to this matter in the future, lest it affect the quality of the pills…

……

Three days later.

Lin Changheng sat quietly in the still room late at night, making no move, simply waiting.

Over the years, his life has been very simple and leisurely.

Raising turtles, cultivating spiritual herbs, entertaining guests, refining elixirs, cultivating oneself, and studying the inheritance of array formations... living a leisurely life.

Except for one day each month, which is fixed in a quiet room late at night, without fail.

"Om~"

A vague feeling came over me.

Then came the feeling of weakness.

Although he was much stronger than before, he was still extremely weak!
He hated this feeling of weakness, this uncontrollable weakness that he could only passively wait for to arrive, yet he also longed for the changes that would follow this weakness—a profound contradiction.

At this moment, at the center of the sea of ​​consciousness, at the center of the primordial cauldron, a golden seed once again took shape and solidified.

[Original Treasure·Eight Levels]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

……

[With essence and blood fully absorbed, the soul-seizing technique is complete!]

【Original Treasure Seed - Ninefold】

……

[Effect: Can be further refined into the human race's innate talent: Desire Control]

[Currently refined to: Heavenly Gift of Purity and Enlightenment - Seeing One's True Nature (Level 3); Heavenly Gift of Enlightenment - Insight into the Source (Level 5)]

……

"It's the ninth level now."

Lin Changheng let out a soft breath.

Choose to refine directly.

Suddenly,

[Already mastered: Heavenly Gift of Pure Heart and Steadfast Desire]

The previously granted eighth level, "Heavenly Blessing of Purity of Mind - Seeing One's True Nature," transforms again into the ninth level, "Heavenly Blessing of Purity of Mind - Concentration of Desire"!
[Effect: When the fire of the heart is extinguished, all desires turn to frost; when the spirit is enlightened, all delusions naturally subside]

If "still water" is like a clear pool of water, one can quickly enter a state of concentration, where external noises can be clearly heard, yet seem to be separated by an invisible barrier, making it difficult to disturb one's peace.

The modern concept of "self-control" is about managing one's desires and delusions, and remaining calm in the face of temptations and threats.

Confront your deepest fears or desires without succumbing to them.

This provides an additional layer of protection for one's mental state.

"Could it be that in the future, when faced with a situation that requires 'challenging one's weaknesses,' one can remain indifferent?"

Lin Changheng immediately thought of it.
But what he was more curious about was, "The [Original Treasure Seed] is about to reach its tenth level. I wonder if it will continue to ascend and seize spiritual energy, or transform on the spot? And where will it transform into?"

"But it's soon."

The last time I seized the spirit of the Origin Treasure Seed was during my seclusion after breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage. I didn't go into details then, but based on this, it won't be more than two years before I can seize the spirit of the tenth level. It's getting faster and faster.

At this moment, Lin Changheng used the [Spirit Observation Technique] to examine his spiritual root. [Fire Spiritual Root, Thirty-eight Strands of Spiritual Aura!]

……

It's worth mentioning that in the past two years, Lin Changheng, as a retainer of the Huang family, has done nothing for the Huang family except help refine a few high-difficulty second-tier low-grade pills.

It is evident that Huang Jiuyuan, the ancestor of the Huang family branch, truly kept his promise.

Moreover, the annual stipends were delivered regularly, which changed Lin Changheng's opinion of him and the Huang family.

In addition, Lin Changheng also learned two pieces of information:

Firstly, the art of culinary arts is highly valued in the Huang family. Although it is not their core strength, it is still being vigorously developed.

This made Lin Changheng think: Could he obtain more demon beast essence blood through Huang Family Spirit Restaurant in more locations?

However, given Lin Changheng's current state of being detached and nominally influential, it's not advisable for him to speak out; he needs to accumulate influence appropriately before he can.

This requires an opportunity that satisfies both parties.

Secondly, Huang Linglin's younger sister, Huang Lingsu, is still asking Lin Changheng to refine special pills.

Moreover, because of Lin Changheng's different identity, they became even closer, and Chef Zeng and Huang Linglin no longer hid the truth and told him the truth.

Huang Lingsu was originally a Foundation Establishment seed within her clan and a branch lineage, possessing a superior spiritual root. Her cultivation progressed rapidly, and she was highly valued. However, after breaking through to the late stage of Qi Refining, she suddenly fainted. From then on, her condition deteriorated. Whenever she cultivated, she became increasingly weak, and even showed signs of vomiting blood.

Later, after the clan's spiritual healer diagnosed that the woman's yin and yang energies were out of balance, clashing irreconcilably.

Continuing to cultivate will exacerbate this situation, causing the already conflicting Yin and Yang energies within the body to become as fierce as fire and water.

If it continues to worsen, his life will inevitably be in danger!

But he didn't understand why this situation had suddenly occurred.

The strange encounter and symptoms of the Foundation Establishment Seed immediately attracted the attention of the Foundation Establishment cultivators of the Lai family, who initially suspected that hostile forces had poisoned or used Gu poison.

Finally, an old healer, by consulting ancient books, found the real reason:

In addition to possessing a superior spiritual root, she also possesses a special and rare physique.

It's called the [Dragon's Roar Body]!
Simply put, it means having a male constitution, full of yang energy, but being born into a female body by mistake.

People with this constitution grow extremely fast, but as their cultivation level increases, the yin and yang energies in their bodies will gradually become imbalanced, eventually manifesting completely when their cultivation level is higher, and they will die when they reach the Foundation Establishment stage.

The pills that Lin Changheng refined for her were medicines to restrain excessive yang energy, thus preserving her cultivation level in the late stage of Qi Refining.

Once the elixir begins to lose its effectiveness, one must dissipate one's cultivation to protect oneself.

Otherwise, one will also suffer injury and shorten one's lifespan due to excessive Yang energy.

……

Upon hearing this, Lin Changheng was deeply saddened.

This was also the first time he had heard of the special physique of this world.

Isn't it a cruel twist of fate that a boy is mistakenly born as a girl?
Moreover, even without the [Dragon Roar Physique], this woman still possesses a superior spiritual root, making her a true genius.

In this situation, not only is there no hope for the future, but one wrong move could even cost us our lives.

……

Now that Lin Changheng has become a retainer of the Huang family, he no longer needs to personally go to [Huangliangju] every month to collect the essence blood of demonic beasts.

Someone will deliver it directly.

It's more convenient, and you get a little bit of a privilege.

The essence blood of the Azure Wave Spirit Turtle, which I had obtained over the past two years, along with the remaining amount from before, has now been collected to make up two hundred portions.

It directly seized two layers of spirit.

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

【Azure Wave Spirit Turtle Treasure Seed - Triple Layer】

……

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

【Azure Wave Spirit Turtle Treasure Seed - Fourth Layer】

After refining two blue gem seeds in succession,

[Already refined: Longevity Divine Gift - Clarity]

[Already refined: Longevity Divine Gift - Ascension to Immortality]

Lin Changheng's lifespan was thus greatly extended once again.

It has grown for sixteen years!

It has lasted for a total of 294 years!

Nearly three hundred years!
However, as the precious seed entered his body, Lin Changheng used the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power] to try to control the life force that was being infused into him.

Introverted and not outwardly expressive.

It really worked.

The person's appearance has not changed at all.

She maintains the appearance of someone in their mid-twenties.

……

It didn't take long.

Lin Changheng then received a letter.

They came from the Xu family.

The signature is "Tantai Feiyue".

This woman already knew about Lin Changheng's breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage and had sent a congratulatory letter two years ago.

I'm genuinely happy for him.

But Lin Changheng knew that this woman also felt disappointed and resentful.

If one person reaches the Foundation Establishment stage while the other only stagnates in the Qi Refining stage, the two are destined to drift apart and find it difficult to be together.

Therefore, after receiving the "Key Points of Foundation Building" sent by Lin Changheng, this woman has been preparing ever since.

Now that she is approaching her sixtieth birthday, she has decided to make a final push before she reaches that age.

She abandoned worldly wealth and high status in order to seek immortality.

Either they can successfully establish their foundation, fulfill their wishes, and satisfy their desire for the Dao, or they can follow in Lin Lang's footsteps and perhaps stay together for a hundred years.

Either fail in foundation building, or at least completely give up any hope.

So she wrote a letter, frankly expressing her hope that Lin Changheng could go back home.

But Lin Changheng could usually guess her true thoughts:
If she fails, without the protection of the Foundation Establishment Pill, she may die. At that time, she will be able to see her beloved one last time, and she will have no regrets in this life.

But given her personality, she wouldn't tell anyone.

"Fei Yue..."

Lin Changheng's eyes showed reminiscence. It had been almost ten years since they last met, and many scenes of their time together and their friendship were still vivid in his mind.

Tantai Feiyue has always been bold in love and hate, and capable of handling things on her own. Lin Changheng naturally knew this, and she had only ever shown him her girlish side...

"It's time to go back and take a look."

Lin Changheng made a decision immediately.

Now that he was in the Foundation Establishment stage, it was different from his previous Qi Refining stage. He didn't need to waste time on the journey, so he quickly finished refining the pills he had on hand and delivered them.

He also made a special trip to Huangliangju to explain the matter of preserving his essence and blood, as this concerned the matter of prolonging life and had to be taken very seriously.

In response, the man with the mustache immediately patted his chest and made a solemn pledge, daring not to slack off in the slightest.

This is because the status of being worshipped by the Huang family is taking effect.

After finishing his business, Lin Changheng quietly left his cave one morning and, in a secluded place, rode his magic boat into the sky and soared away.

(End of this chapter)