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

Chapter 236 Revenge is never too late, double the reward

The two have completed a preliminary collaboration, with some trust established, but their relationship is still superficial and they cannot delve too deeply into anything.

But Lin Changheng had already foreseen the role of this connection.

After all, it is a major merchant guild in the number one immortal city of Song, and it may become a channel for me to obtain the essence blood of demon beasts.

After another long chat, the two said goodbye and went about their own business.

……

In less than half an hour.

The Qiu family patriarch, whom Lin Changheng had been secretly watching, finally stood up. His complexion returned to normal, with a rosy glow appearing, indicating that he had recovered.

However, his expression remained unpleasant, revealing his state of mind.

"Whoosh!"

After looking around and finding no one particularly suspicious, he unfurled his black robe and flew westward on a beam of light.

Lin Changheng waited until the other party had flown far away, until their figure had become a tiny dot, before leisurely getting up to follow.

But at the moment he stood up.

Another green-robed cultivator went ahead and followed in the direction of the Qiu family patriarch with a "whoosh".

"Ok?"

Lin Changheng's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise in them. "So you've actually been targeted by someone else?"

Although the Qiu family patriarch's behavior and state of mind suggested that he had gained nothing in the secret realm and was dejected, he was clearly not believed by anyone and no one wanted to investigate the truth.

Lin Changheng initially had this suspicion as well, but his goal was not to steal the treasure, but to kill and take revenge!
Therefore, it didn't matter how the Qiu family patriarch acted in front of Lin Changheng, because what he wanted was the other party's life.

It's essential to strike and kill the opponent while they are still at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, so as not to give them another chance to develop.

Lin Changheng felt no guilt about this, and initially even considered waiting until the man was old before using his strength to bully the weak and his youth to bully the old...

Now that someone has caught up, he can only slow down and wait for the green-robed cultivator to fly for a while before leisurely catching up.

"Since someone is trying to 'stalk the cicada like a mantis,' then I'll play the role of 'the oriole in the back.'"

"Wait until the two fight and are both severely injured, then eliminate them both and receive double the reward. That would be a good idea."

Halfway there, Lin Changheng turned around and glanced back, sensing something.

In the distance, the once radiant riverside of the secret realm, where countless cultivators risked their lives, has gradually blurred and shrunk amidst the clouds and mountains, eventually becoming an insignificant dot on the horizon, as if it were the end of a noisy dream.

Although we didn't enter the secret realm, the trip was still very rewarding, but we also witnessed more dangers and struggles.

The struggle for supremacy has always been this way.

He felt neither joy nor sorrow, nor much attachment; he was simply wondering whether, after sixty years, he could break through the Foundation Establishment stage and become a Core Formation cultivator.

If not, could we go into this secret realm, which is off-limits to those who have reached the Core Formation stage, and explore it a bit?
To collect all its treasures?

He withdrew his gaze and refocused his attention on the two almost imperceptible black dots of light in the distance ahead.

His divine sense, like an invisible spider web, carefully and cautiously followed the green-robed cultivator from afar, while he himself activated the [Concealing Breath Demon Technique] to hide all his aura, flying low under the cover of the mountains and forests below, following at a leisurely pace.

His strategy was simple and most effective.

"Wait."

When the impatient mantis could no longer restrain itself, it launched an attack on the cicada.

Wait for that seemingly ignorant "cicada" to reveal its hidden poisonous stinger or trump card.

When their battle is in full swing, their magical power is depleted, and they may even suffer heavy losses.

At that time, he, the more deeply hidden "oriole," will quietly appear and reap the greatest rewards with the least cost.

The wind in the mountains brushed past his ears, bringing the scent of damp earth and vegetation. Lin Changheng's eyes were calm as still water, but a cold calculation and the patience of a hunter flashed deep within them.

……

The Qiu family patriarch was at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, while the green-robed cultivator behind him was at the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

The green-robed cultivator was clearly an experienced one, using his divine sense to stay far behind the Qiu family patriarch, always maintaining a distance of two miles.

He also used some kind of magic to make his figure somewhat blurry, so that if you didn't look closely, you would think he was just a scene of grass and trees, and it was difficult to distinguish him.

But while he was feeling proud of this, he was unaware that there was another person following him four hundred feet behind.

His divine sense was also superior to his, and he was completely unaware of it.

"Damn..."

The Qiu family patriarch's expression was gloomy, and he couldn't help but curse inwardly.

Although he was only at the peak of the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he had lived for so many years, and his combat experience and intuition for danger were by no means weak. Moreover, his five senses were different from ordinary people since childhood!

The feeling of being watched from behind, like a thorn in his back, and the faint yet persistent presence he could never shake off, clearly told him that he was being targeted!

He tried to accelerate suddenly and also tried to dive into complex terrain in an attempt to escape.

But not long after, that feeling of being locked in returned.

The opponent's spiritual sense was clearly far superior to his, and their tracking skills were incredibly sophisticated.

"Which blind fool is it?!" The Qiu family patriarch was both shocked and furious.

The secret realm had just ended, which was the peak period for killing and looting. He himself was already thinking of getting out as soon as possible, and he pretended to be dejected and lost, but he did not expect to become someone else's target.

His mind flashed through what he had gained from this secret realm, and he gritted his teeth, determined to bring the items back to his clan no matter the cost.

This is the spark that ignites the crisis brought about by the covetous Xu family of the Blackwater River!
This is the very reason why the Qiu family is struggling to survive!

……

After flying for another fifteen minutes, the Qiu family patriarch knew that there was no hope of shaking them off, so he gritted his teeth and began to look for a place where he could counterattack or launch a sneak attack.

The once straight trajectory began to become disordered and irregular.

"He may have noticed, or even discovered."

This did indeed seem quite strange to the green-robed cultivator.

A hint of mockery flashed across his stiff face. He sneered and sped up, closing in on the other man.

Since that's the case, we'll definitely have to reveal our true intentions. Otherwise, if the other party finds what they need and achieves their goal, we'll probably have to go through a lot more trouble.

When it breaks, it breaks!

This person is exceptionally decisive.

"call out!"

The distance closed rapidly, and with a swift grab, a palm-sized black seal appeared. The next instant, it was infused with the powerful magic of a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator. With a clear ringing sound, the seal surged forward, growing larger and larger until it resembled a gigantic black millstone, crashing down upon the black-robed figure ahead!
It was incredibly heavy, so heavy that the air seemed to tremble; it was clearly a mid-grade second-tier spiritual artifact!

One can imagine that if this blow had landed squarely, the Qiu family patriarch would most likely have been turned into a pile of minced meat!
"Hey! Those who have undergone calamity deserve to die!"

The Qiu family patriarch roared loudly, trying to attract the attention of the passing cultivators and arouse their shared hatred for the calamity cultivator, making them hesitant to act, thus relieving his pressure.

His subordinate was quick; he took out a bronze bowl and tossed it into the air.

Instantly, the bronze bowl flew up, spun around overhead, and emitted light from its mouth, creating a layer of bronze-yellow light that enveloped the entire bowl.

"His brain is still sharp, but it's useless."

The green-robed cultivator glared at the early Foundation Establishment cultivator who was passing by in the distance and slowed down his escape upon hearing the sound. The cultivator was so frightened that he didn't dare to linger and sped away, disappearing in the blink of an eye.

Then, the magic power surged fiercely into the black seal, slamming it down three times on its head.

"Boom! Boom! Boom!"

Three deafening roars almost came together! The black seal, carrying immense force, slammed into the bronze-yellow light screen supported by the bronze bowl!
Each impact caused the light curtain to distort violently, bursting out with blinding light and violent ripples.

The bronze bowl emitted a wail of unbearable strain, and the aura on its surface dimmed rapidly at a visible speed.

How could a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator wielding a mid-grade spiritual weapon possibly withstand the attack of an early-Foundation Establishment cultivator wielding a low-grade spiritual weapon? Even if his weapon was a high-quality low-grade spiritual weapon!
The Qiu family patriarch's face turned deathly pale instantly, his blood and qi churned within him, and he felt a sweet taste in his throat, almost spitting out a mouthful of blood.

He desperately poured his magic power into the bronze bowl, trying to stabilize his defense, but the difference in their cultivation levels and the restraint of the spiritual weapon's grade were now clearly revealed.

"Crack!"

With a clear cracking sound, the bronze-yellow light screen finally reached its limit after withstanding the third blow, and exploded like a broken eggshell.

The bronze bowl let out a mournful cry, its spiritual light completely gone, and flew backward, a tiny crack even appearing on its surface!

The magical artifact was forcibly broken open, and the Qiu family patriarch staggered backward, his expression changing drastically as he took out three mid-grade second-tier talismans.

The two attack talismans each unleashed a sharp flash of light and a burst of fiery rain.

The former slammed into the black inkstone as it came, attempting to block it.

The latter, however, aimed at the green-robed cultivator in the distance and charged forward—to catch the thief, first catch the king!

The third talisman cast down a thick, solid curtain of water to directly and firmly protect the area, while a magical shield also rose up, forming two layers of defense.

"It's nothing more than a grasshopper in autumn, struggling in its death throes!"

The green-robed cultivator revealed a cruel grin, pressing his advantage relentlessly and giving the Qiu family patriarch no chance to catch his breath.

He made a hand seal, unleashing a surge of water that directly blocked the rapidly approaching rain of flames.

On the other side, the black inkstone was raised again, carrying an even more ferocious aura, and transformed into a streak of black light, striking out fiercely.

"Boom!"

The sharp blade was crushed by the inkstone after only a brief contact!

Then, with unstoppable momentum, it crashed down on the Qiu family patriarch once more!

A hint of despair and resentment appeared in the eyes of the Qiu family patriarch. He tried every means, but he was still no match for his opponent and could not even buy time.

"Crack!"

The water curtain that enveloped him shattered.

The Qiu family patriarch refused to sit idly by and wait for his death. He retreated rapidly, throwing out several second-tier low-grade talismans and manipulating the high-grade magic artifacts on his body to block the attack.

"Bang bang bang bang..."

It doesn't work at all.

Before the black inkpad, it was as fragile as paper, easily knocked away and shattered.

"I am willing to hand over my storage bag and serve you like a slave, begging you to spare my life, senior!"

Seeing that there was no way to stop him, with the powerful wind from the black inkstone cutting into his flesh, the Qiu family patriarch simply slid down and begged for mercy!

"Heh heh, fine! If only we had known this would happen, why did we do it in the first place? What's the point of all this futile resistance?"

The green-robed monk laughed loudly, seemingly agreeing, and the black inkstone paused in mid-air.

"Thank you for your forgiveness, senior..."

The Qiu family patriarch immediately took out his storage bag, ready to offer it up, but a sinister glint flashed in his lowered old eyes, as if he had other plans.

But the next moment, a loud "bang" was heard.

The Qiu family patriarch felt a sudden pain in his head and upper body, as if he had been hit hard by something!
The fawning expression on his face and the sinister look in his eyes froze and shattered instantly, replaced by extreme shock and incomprehensible pain! He had only finished half of offering the storage bag when his magical shield exploded, and his entire body was thrown backward uncontrollably!
"puff--!"

A large mouthful of blood mixed with fragments of internal organs gushed out, tracing a gruesome arc in the air. His chest was visibly caved in, and countless bones were broken.

He struggled to lift his eyes, his vision blurred and bloodshot. He could only see the green-robed cultivator who had seemed to have agreed to the deal, but now there was no trace of a smile on his face, only naked cruelty and mockery.

The black seal had been activated again at some point, and the fatal blow just now was clearly its doing!
"Why... why..."

His response was a descending black inkstone that smashed him into minced meat.

The Qiu family patriarch is dead!
"First, you can't keep a dog you have a grudge against; second, even if I kill you, the storage bag will still be mine."

The green-robed cultivator smiled smugly and reached out to grab the storage bag and the relics of the Qiu family patriarch that had fallen to the ground.

However, in that instant—

Mutations reborn!

Suddenly, the green-robed cultivator's vision blurred, and the surrounding vegetation surged, causing the scene to instantly distort and change!
He seemed to see the Qiu family patriarch, who had already turned into minced meat, grinning as he stood up again, his bloody, mangled hand ripping out his heart.

It was as if he saw the black seal he had refined for many years suddenly go out of control and crash down on his head!

The illusion was incredibly realistic, and it directly captured the moment when his mind was most relaxed and when there might be slight fluctuations in his subconscious after committing the murder.

"No! It's an illusion!"

The green-robed cultivator, after all, had rich experience in combat and his soul was far stronger than that of the Qiu family patriarch. He was only stunned for a very short time, less than a tenth of a breath, before he realized something was wrong. His internal magic power was about to erupt to dispel the illusion, and his divine sense was about to frantically scan the surroundings.

However, this extremely brief moment of surprise was enough for the hunter who had been waiting for so long!
Just as his eyes regained their clarity, before he could even completely dispel the lingering illusions before him, a faint, almost invisible cyan-gold light, like the sigh of death, silently swept across his neck.

quickly!

Extremely fast! So fast that it exceeded the speed of his current thinking and reaction!

The green-robed cultivator felt a slightly cool touch on his neck, and then his vision began to spin uncontrollably.

The last thing he saw was his headless body, still in a state of alarm, blood gushing from his neck like a fountain, and the figure of a green-robed cultivator who had appeared not far away, his face calm and chilling.

"Uh……"

He didn't even get to utter a complete cry of surprise before his consciousness was plunged into eternal darkness.

(End of this chapter)