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

Chapter 274 A Gift of Essence Blood, A Terrifying Reputation

"Hmm, the tea has a delicate aroma and a sweet aftertaste; it is indeed a rare and excellent tea."

Tantai Feiyue gracefully raised her teacup, gesturing to Yan Mingyi, then took a small sip and nodded in praise.

Yan Mingyi felt a little uncomfortable under her gaze, picked up her teacup, and said softly, "I'm glad you like it, sister."

Xu Hanji quietly accepted the second cup of tea from Yan Mingyi, her fingertips lightly touching the tea before separating. She whispered, "Thank you for your trouble."

But when she looked up at the lake view outside the window, her gaze inadvertently swept in Lin Changheng's direction, and a faint trace of complexity flashed in her cool eyes.

Lin Changheng picked up his teacup and took a sip. Suddenly, he said to Yan Mingyi, "Mingyi, go and fetch the box of 'Jade Dew Pearls' that the alchemist gave us a few days ago. Feiyue loves this kind of spiritual fruit the most, and Hanji should like it too."

Yan Mingyi understood and gracefully stood up: "I'll go get it right away."

After she left, only three people remained in the pavilion. Tantai Feiyue toyed with her teacup, looking at Lin Changheng with a half-smile: "Brother Lin certainly knows how to order people around."

Lin Changheng met her gaze and said frankly, "Mingyi has indeed worked hard to manage Qiyue Island for me all these years."

Xu Hanji suddenly spoke softly, "The lake view is quite beautiful." She looked out the window, "It has a unique charm compared to the rapids and treacherous shoals of the Blackwater River."

Lin Changheng followed her gaze and saw the lake shimmering with light, with several birds skimming across the surface—a truly tranquil and peaceful scene. He said gently, "If you like, you can stay on the island for a while longer."

Xu Hanji nodded slightly.

Tantai Feiyue stopped joking and got straight to the point: "Originally, Brother Xujun also wanted to come with us, but the family cannot be without a Foundation Establishment cultivator to preside over it, so we had to put the idea aside and come to offer our birthday wishes and blessings instead."

"Of course. I appreciate your kind intentions."

Lin Changheng nodded, appearing magnanimous and unconcerned.

"By the way, Brother Lin, these are some essence blood resources of the [Mysterious Vulture] that the family has collected over the years..."

Xu Hanji then spoke, taking out a batch of essence blood packaged in a specially made box, "This can also be considered one of the congratulatory gifts."

Then he took out a specially prepared congratulatory gift, worth over a thousand spirit stones, which was quite precious.

"The clan is very kind."

Lin Changheng glanced at the essence blood in the box, then waved his hand to put away the gift.

The essence and blood of the [Mysterious Vulture] are quite important to him, especially the [Insightful Aura Technique] formed by seizing its spirit, which, combined with the [Spirit Observation Technique] and [Aura Observation Technique] to form the "Divine Light," is particularly useful.

Now that [Insight into Otherworldly Techniques] has once again absorbed spiritual energy, its effects will naturally be even greater.

With anticipation in her heart, Yan Mingyi returned carrying a jade box filled with crystal-clear spiritual fruits. She placed the fruits in the center of the stone table and said with a smile, "Please, my two elder sisters, try them and see if they suit your taste."

……

What followed was not a scene of intrigue or hidden malice.

The three women were all intelligent, and they created a harmonious atmosphere. They quickly became familiar and warm with each other, even whispering some intimate words, which made it seem as if they were excluding Lin Changheng.

Lin Changheng not only didn't care about this, but was actually happy to see it, watching with a smile while drinking tea.

That night.

Lin Changheng was in seclusion in his secret chamber, preparing to seize the essence of the spirit.

Suddenly, he heard a light footstep outside the door. Without even using his divine sense, Lin Changheng knew from the rhythm of the footsteps that the person was Tantai Feiyue.

A smile immediately appeared on his lips. He stopped what he was doing, and with a seemingly casual flick of his sleeve, a gentle force surged forth, silently raising the massive Dragon-Slaying Stone a short distance.

Immediately afterwards, a graceful figure in pure white appeared with incredible agility, flashing past and slipping through the crack, bringing with it a fragrant breeze. The stone door then gently closed again.

The luminous stone in the secret room emitted a soft glow, illuminating Tantai Feiyue's radiant face.

She had changed into a more form-fitting dress that accentuated her stunning curves, a stark contrast to her elegant demeanor during the day, now exuding a more alluring charm.

She crossed her arms and leaned leisurely against the newly closed stone door, her beautiful eyes giving Lin Changheng, who was sitting cross-legged on the futon, a half-smile playing on her lips. Her voice carried a hint of lazy teasing:

"Oh, our Great Alchemist Lin, the Great Island Master Lin, is about to celebrate his 100th birthday. Instead of enjoying the moon and tea with your confidantes outside, you're hiding in this cold, secluded room, working so diligently?"

Her words were teasing, but deep in her eyes as she looked at Lin Changheng, there was a visible longing.

Lin Changheng didn't respond to her teasing, but simply gazed back at her quietly. The delicate fragrance in the air seemed to grow stronger, silently enveloping her.

He reached out and gently beckoned, and a vast yet gentle magical power surged forth, enveloping Tantai Feiyue. Amidst her delicate cry, he pulled her into his arms and placed her in his embrace.

However, Tantai Feiyue's beautiful eyes widened slightly, because she had been caught off guard and had subconsciously tried to use her magic to separate them, but it was like paper under Lin Changheng's magic. She couldn't resist at all and was directly pulled into his arms, pressed tightly against his firm chest.

Their bodies were pressed tightly together, and through the thin fabric, they could clearly feel each other's warmth and heartbeat. Tantai Feiyue's nose was filled with the familiar, faintly medicinal scent of Lin Changheng.

"Hiss... My husband's strength... seems to have improved greatly again."

She gasped instinctively, her red lips parted slightly, her face filled with astonishment, disbelief, and a deep sense of surprise.

She suddenly looked up at Lin Changheng, who was standing close by, her beautiful eyes asking, "Husband, what is your current cultivation level...?"

Lin Changheng looked down at her pretty face, which was particularly vivid with surprise. He did not answer her question directly, but tightened his arms slightly to bring her closer to him before slowly saying, "Most ordinary late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators would die by my sword if they faced my husband."

His tone was calm, yet it carried a powerful sense of confidence.

Feeling the warmth from his embrace and hearing his words echoing in her ears, Tantai Feiyue's heart trembled slightly, and she was also moved, wrapping her jade arms around Lin Changheng's neck.

Inside the secret room, the atmosphere suddenly became enchanting and ambiguous. The soft glow of the luminous stone bathed the two embracing figures, elongating their shadows and intertwining them.

Some emotions need no words; they surge forth in the exchange of glances and the mingling of breaths. And in this secluded room, the temperature quietly rises because of this silent intimacy.

……

After an unknown amount of time, the soft, melodious murmurs finally faded away, leaving only Lin Changheng in the secluded chamber, his expression a mixture of strangeness and lingering satisfaction.

Because Tantai Feiyue was more obedient and bolder than before, she once again half-wore the robe she wore when she was conferred the title of princess. It is unknown whether it was Yan Mingyi's presence that stimulated this scene, which allowed Lin Changheng to truly enjoy it.

After calming his mind slightly, Lin Changheng got straight to work.

The Xu family brought over four hundred portions of the essence blood of the [Mysterious Bald Eagle] once again.

After quickly completing the preparations, Lin Changheng began to communicate with the Yuan Ding to extract the essence blood of the [Xuanfeng Bald Eagle].

"Om~"

The cauldron trembled instantly.

[Xuanfeng Vulture Treasure Species·Third Level]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

……

【Mysterious Bald Eagle Treasure Seed - Fourth Level】

[Spirit Stealing: 16/100]

Two precious seeds were generated simultaneously.

[Can continue refining the demon race's innate talent: Insight]

"Whoo~"

Lin Changheng plucked the precious seeds one after another, and instantly—

[Already mastered: Insight into Otherworldly Techniques - Clarity]

[Already mastered: Insight into Otherworldly Techniques - Ascension to Immortality]

"Buzz!"

At the same time, Lin Changheng suddenly felt a sharp, cool sensation in his eyes, as if a clear spring had washed over them. He subconsciously opened his eyes, and a strange light slowly flowed deep within them.

He couldn't wait to try out the enhanced effects of the [Insight] talent.

He went straight to the outside of the island, and without using his divine sense, he simply looked around with his naked eyes.

Wherever his gaze fell, the details of the world were magnified many times over, in a way that was unprecedented!

Even on the mountain wall, a tiny insect, almost the same color as the rock and only the size of a grain of rice, was slowly crawling, and the complex patterns on its carapace were clearly visible!
This is only static observation.

With a slight thought, he fully activated his [Insight] talent.

A pair of invisible eyes opened wide, meeting Lin Changheng's gaze, and looked around like an eagle's eyes.

In an instant, his vision seemed to enter another dimension.

Compared to the trajectory of spiritual energy in the air, Lin Changheng could see more clearly the weak points of the invisible spiritual light and the energy flow path when the formation was in operation.

The same pattern was observed when the arrays on both Shengyang Island and Fuxing Island were scanned.

"If we attack the weak points of this formation and block its energy flow path, wouldn't it be easier to break through the formation?"

Lin Changheng was pondering this crucial issue by combining the theory of first-order superior array formation.

Furthermore, the combination of the perfected [Spirit Observation Technique] and the recently advanced [Aura Observation Technique] forms a "divine light" that sweeps across the area, making the observation more precise and obvious, giving a feeling of peeling back layers, and can assist in accurate hits.

"Excellent!" Lin Changheng thought with satisfaction.

In a sense, it's practically tailor-made for magical battles, mystery exploration, and breaking formations!
Not only can he "see the smallest details", but he can also see through illusions and directly perceive the levels and flow of energy. Combined with his divine sense, when facing enemies in the future, the flaws in the enemy's moves and the weaknesses in their protective magic weapons will probably be exposed to him!

Even... anticipating the enemy's moves is possible.

"If we wait until the [Aura Observation Technique] reaches the [Perfect Realm] and the [Mysterious Vulture Treasure Seed] reaches the fifth level and completes its transformation, what kind of magical and wondrous state will the combined 'Divine Light' power reach?"

Lin Changheng couldn't help but have high hopes.

At this moment, Lin Changheng examined his own spiritual root again. Fire spiritual root, with forty-nine strands of spiritual energy.

Wood spirit root, twenty-nine strands of spiritual charm.

Earth Spirit Root, with twenty-one strands of spiritual essence.

Golden spiritual root, fourteen strands of spiritual essence.

The water spirit root consists of eighteen strands.

Although the fire spirit root has been stagnant for a long time, this time, the Huang family will most likely bring the essence blood of the [Crimson-Eyed Fire Demon], which will allow them to break through to the ranks of superior spirit roots in one fell swoop.

Lin Changheng had enough patience for this matter, which was a foregone conclusion. After all, there was no life-or-death crisis at hand, so he could develop in peace.

Whether through self-cultivation or the enhancement of the original treasure seed [Purity of Mind], it allows one to maintain a peaceful state of mind for a long time.

……

Soon, it was Lin Changheng's 100th birthday.

The birthday banquet was also held on the same day.

On this day, Qiyue Island was decorated with lanterns and colorful decorations, and artificial auspicious clouds swirled around it. Spirit birds, conjured by arrays, sang and circled in the sky above the island, sprinkling down specks of spiritual light.

Just after Chen Shi (7-9 AM), guests began to arrive in droves.

A series of streaks of light of various colors pierced the sky and landed one after another on the welcoming plaza specially set up on Qiyue Island.

Xu Maoling and Cheng Suling, as close neighbors and allies, arrived early, accompanied by some subordinates and maids, to help greet the guests.

Tantai Feiyue, Xu Hanji, and Yan Mingyi were all dressed to the nines today. One was bright and noble, another was aloof and cold, and the third was a girl from a humble family. They attracted many eyes, both open and subtle.

They were also busy with various tasks.

Needless to say, Tantai Feiyue and Yan Mingyi were both Lin Changheng's women, which was only natural.

As the first family Lin Changheng joined and the place where he rose to prominence, Xu Hanji was naturally considered one of their own. Even without any other feelings involved, helping him was within the normal scope.

Lin Changheng stood in front of the main hall, exchanging pleasantries with the guests who came to offer their congratulations and accepting their well wishes.

He wasn't dressed in overly ornate clothes today, but rather in a simple blue Taoist robe. His face was serene, his eyes gentle, and his aura was harmonious and restrained. If one didn't already know his name, one would almost mistake him for an ordinary, refined scholar.

"Brother Lin, why are there so many more guests..."

Yan Mingyi suddenly walked to Lin Changheng's side and whispered in his ear.

Her gaze swept across the plaza ahead, where she saw a bustling crowd, shimmering light, intertwined spiritual pressures, and descending lights and magical boats, creating a lively and extraordinary scene.

Because she personally drafted the invitation list and her husband reviewed it, she also carefully checked the invitations sent out.

However, to date, the number of cultivators who have arrived has exceeded the number on the list by several times.

Moreover, streaks of light would occasionally fly in from the sky and land on Qiyue Island.

"I vaguely remember many of them. Most of them had asked me for pills before. They must have heard the news and came uninvited."

Lin Changheng replied telepathically.

In fact, he had seen similar situations when he was in the Immortal City of Floating Life. At that time, he had not joined any faction, and there were many representatives from various factions who came to win him over and offer congratulations. He received so many gifts that his hands were sore, so he was not surprised.

In addition, forces that had dealings with Lin Changheng regarding elixirs, as well as some rogue cultivators who had heard of his name and came seeking his elixirs, all arrived with gifts.

They were mostly Foundation Establishment cultivators.

Moreover, a rumor was circulating widely outside that Lin Danshi had apparently broken through to become a second-tier high-grade alchemist.

This is the key reason why guests keep coming in droves, and even the key reason why many powerful groups come uninvited.

A renowned alchemist, famous for refining high-quality pills, and newly promoted to the second-tier superior grade, is valuable and influential enough to make any Foundation Establishment or even Pseudo-Dan forces befriend him.

"Lingqiong Mountain [Huang Family] has arrived."

Suddenly, a call to action came from the front of the square, and then a group of cultivators dressed in yellow brocade robes, led by a tall and imposing middle-aged cultivator, walked calmly into the center of the square.

It was none other than Chef Zeng.

Chef Zeng cupped his hands and raised his voice:

"On the occasion of Lin Gongfeng's centennial birthday, the Huang family specially presents a century-old spiritual herb, the Dragon Snake Vine, to celebrate Lin Gongfeng's birthday, wishing him longevity in the path of immortality and divine skills!"

Upon hearing this, the previously noisy square fell silent, followed by a low murmur of commotion.

The legendary herb, Dragon Snake Vine, has been around for centuries!
This substance is the main ingredient for refining various second-grade high-quality pills, and may even be used as an auxiliary ingredient for some third-grade pills. The herbal essence contained within it, along with its unique dragon and snake aura, has a remarkable effect on refining the spirituality of pills.

A hundred-year-old piece is especially rare and valuable, and usually only appears at major auctions.

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Changheng's eyes.

Although he had helped the Huang family before, and they would give him the essence of the mountain and marsh spirits, he did not expect that the Huang family would be so generous as to use a hundred-year-old spiritual herb with profound meaning to celebrate his centennial birthday. This gift was both substantial and ingenious.

He immediately stepped down from the main hall, a perfectly measured smile on his face, and said with a smile, "The clan is far too kind! Such a generous gift is undeserved. Please take your seat!"

"Haha, not at all, our friendship runs deep, this is just a small gift, nothing special."

Chef Zeng responded with a smile and led the group of relatives who came to celebrate the birthday into the hall.

Visitors continue to come, and the fame continues unabated.

"The rogue cultivator Zhu Tong presents this [Second-Rank High-Grade Spirit Jade], wishing that Master Lin's Dao heart may be pure and gentle as jade!"

"The Shen family of Qinglong Bay presents three pieces of [Water Soul Crystal] to wish Island Master Lin a long and healthy life!"

"A gift from the Sun family, a renowned family of beast tamers: a pair of cubs of the turbid evil spirit beast, the Golden-Crowned Crane, symbolizing good fortune and wishing Master Lin's alchemy path to prosperity!"

Lin Changheng greeted them all with a smile as usual.

He hadn't expected the Sun family to come uninvited. This was a prestigious family that he had previously only been able to look up to, yet they had personally come to offer their congratulations.

Many of the cultivators present secretly gasped.

The Sun family, masters of beasts! This is a prominent family that ranks among the top in the Song Dynasty. They are famous for taming and raising all kinds of spirit beasts and have a profound foundation, far surpassing ordinary cultivation families.

A middle-aged cultivator dressed in a brocade robe embroidered with a hundred beasts walked in with two disciples carrying cages of spirit beasts.

The pair of young cranes in the cage, though not yet fully grown, already displayed extraordinary qualities, with a tuft of golden down on their heads shimmering in the sunlight.

Lin Changheng smiled as usual, stood up to greet him, and cupped his hands, saying, "Fellow Daoist Sun, it is an honor to have you here. Please forgive me for not welcoming you sooner."

At the same time, with a shift of his divine sense, he also heard the identity of this person from the ears of a knowledgeable cultivator beside him.

Although not the absolute core, it is indeed a direct descendant of the main lineage, which shows considerable sincerity.

He personally took the spirit beast cage from the other party, feeling the vigorous life of the young crane inside, and said sincerely, "The arrival of noblemen has made this humble place shine."

The Sun family cultivator laughed heartily, his voice booming: "Alchemist Lin, you are too kind! Fellow Daoist's 100th birthday is a grand event for our surrounding area, how could my Sun family be absent? Moreover, Fellow Daoist's alchemy skills are superb, and there may be times in the future when we need your help to refine pills. At that time, I hope you will not refuse."

He spoke frankly and made his intention to befriend the other person quite clear.

"Fellow Daoist Sun, you flatter me. If there is anything I need, I will do my best." Lin Changheng replied with a smile, his attitude neither humble nor arrogant.

After the Sun family cultivators entered the main hall, a streak of light flew in from the horizon, causing Lin Changheng to raise an eyebrow and smile even more broadly as he looked at it.

The newcomer was a female cultivator dressed in a moon-white fairy dress, with a gentle appearance, willow-leaf eyebrows and almond-shaped eyes, and a vermilion mark between her eyebrows.

She looked at him with a slight smile.

"Senior Mo Zhaoli of the Ziji Sect has come to offer birthday wishes to Master Lin!"

Upon hearing this, the expressions and gazes of everyone present varied.

After all, the reputation, strength, and foundation of the [Purple Extreme Sect] are undeniable, which also demonstrates the breadth of Master Lin's social circle.

"Li'er."

Lin Changheng ignored everything else and focused his gaze only on Mo Zhaoli, smiling gently.

"Brother Lin."

Mo Zhaoli took out the gift box and handed it to Lin Changheng. After looking around, she slightly parted her red lips to explain the reason for her lateness. She explained that a mission had suddenly been assigned within the sect, which she could not refuse. Otherwise, she had planned to come a few days earlier.

"It's good that you've arrived. You must be tired from your journey. Please take a seat first, and we can discuss everything in detail later."

Lin Changheng wanted to say a few more words, but his divine sense detected a gust of wind blowing from afar, bringing unusual spiritual energy fluctuations, and a powerful sense of oppression was approaching from a distance!

Not only Lin Changheng, but many guests with profound cultivation in the square also sensed it one after another, and they all stopped talking and looked at the horizon with surprise and uncertainty.

In the distance, the clouds churned, and a massive shadow tore through the sea of ​​clouds, approaching Qiyue Island at a seemingly slow but actually incredibly swift speed. As it drew closer, everyone could see that it was a magnificent spirit boat, dozens of feet long, crafted entirely from some kind of pure white spirit jade, its hull engraved with countless profound runes, and radiating a faint immortal aura!
Auspicious clouds spontaneously gathered around the spirit boat, supporting it. A flag was hung at the bow, bearing two large characters written in ancient seal script: "Floating Life!"
"It's the spirit boat from the Floating Life Immortal City!" a knowledgeable cultivator exclaimed in surprise.

As soon as this statement came out, everyone in the audience was shocked!

The Floating Life Immortal City is a vast power even more extraordinary than the Beast Taming Sun family and other clans. Below the Southern Palace and the five major sects, it is one of the true overlords of this region! Its spirit boats are rarely dispatched. When they do appear, they usually represent the will of the Immortal City, or at least the will of the core high-level leaders of the Immortal City.

The spirit boat did not land, but hovered a hundred feet above Qiyue Island, casting a shadow that covered half of the square. The invisible pressure made many early Foundation Establishment cultivators feel that they had difficulty breathing.

The hatch slid open silently, revealing several figures.

The woman at the head of the group wore an elegant white dress that flowed gracefully. Her face was stunningly beautiful, and her aura was ethereal and otherworldly, like a fairy untouched by worldly concerns. She didn't deliberately exude any aura, but simply by standing there, she naturally became the center of attention, drawing all eyes to her.

"It's...it's Bai Hengwan's true disciple, Fairy Bai!" Someone recognized the newcomer and exclaimed loudly.

(End of this chapter)