Chapter 159: Chapter 148: Tier Two of Body Refining, Profound Spirit Talent (2)

But the man seemed quite respectable; he likely wasn’t one of those swindling cultivators.

"I have an arrangement with Chef Zeng of Yinggui Tower. I’m here to retrieve something."

"Oh, you must be Alchemist Lin?"

The attendant slapped his forehead in a moment of sudden realization. "Please wait a moment. I’ll go get our steward."

Lin Changheng nodded. Before long, a smiling male cultivator with a mustache approached. "Alchemist Lin! Chief Zeng has already informed me about the Demon Beast Essence Blood. Please, have a seat while I go and retrieve it."

"I appreciate it."

Lin Changheng smiled and nodded.

’It was important to observe the proper courtesies, as they would likely have many dealings in the future.’

Before long, a wooden box appeared in Lin Changheng’s Storage Bag. Inside was the very Profound Spirit Essence Blood he had been longing for.

There were a full six portions!

A deep azure hue swirled within, reminiscent of the oceans from his past life. It was a truly beautiful sight.

After paying the standard price in Spirit Stones, Lin Changheng was about to leave when the steward called out to him. He turned, a look of confusion on his face.

"Chief Zeng arranged a table of Spiritual Food and Spirit Wine for you," the steward said with a smile. "He gave us special instructions to invite you to partake."

"Oh, I couldn’t possibly..." Lin Changheng waved his hands, attempting to refuse. But after a great deal of persuasion from the steward, he finally had to relent. "Very well. It would be rude to refuse such kind hospitality."

Faced with a table laden with delicacies, Lin Changheng was left somewhat dumbfounded.

’Chef Zeng is truly generous. This meal must be worth at least fifty Spirit Stones.’

As he ate, the sound of a conversation from a nearby table drifted over.

’A Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object? Are they talking about the recent auction?’

Lin Changheng glanced over out of the corner of his eye. The two people at that table were both at the Late Stage of Qi Cultivation, around the seventh or eighth layer, discussing matters as they ate.

His chopsticks slowed as he focused his attention and listened intently.

Sure enough, he heard one of them say, "Tsk, that auction was something else. Not only was a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object put up, fetching a high price of ten thousand Spirit Stones, but even a Foundation Establishment Pill showed up..."

"A Foundation Establishment Pill? I thought those only showed up at the decennial grand auction?"

His companion gasped, but it didn’t stop a look of yearning from spreading across his face.

Lin Changheng was equally astonished, taking a large gulp of Spirit Wine as he listened.

"That may be true, but the Foundation Establishment Pill did indeed appear as the grand finale. I was there! I saw it with my own eyes and heard it with my own ears!"

The first speaker stated emphatically, "However, that Pill was a Substandard one, not Genuine."

"Substandard?"

"This is where you’re uninformed. A Substandard Foundation Establishment Pill has the same effects as a Genuine one. The only difference is that, compared to a Genuine Pill, its boost to the Foundation Establishment Probability is five percent lower, and its ability to protect the Dantian from harm is also reduced by nearly half."

The man who had spoken first had clearly done his homework. His explanation was methodical and largely correct.

"So that’s how it is. You’re very knowledgeable, my friend. I’m impressed. Do you know how many Spirit Stones the Substandard Foundation Establishment Pill fetched?"

The other person offered some timely flattery, which brought a pleased look to the first man’s face before he continued his questioning.

"Almost sixteen thousand!"

The first speaker stated the figure.

"HISS... that much? Then wouldn’t a Genuine Foundation Establishment Pill go for upwards of twenty-five thousand?"

The second man was secretly dumbfounded. His eyes flickered as he seemed to calculate how long it would take him to accumulate that many Spirit Stones.

"Indeed. It’s simply beyond the imagination of us poor, struggling Loose Cultivators."

The first speaker sighed as well, a dejected look on his face.

"Doesn’t that mean we have no hope of reaching Foundation Establishment in this lifetime?"

"It’s not so pessimistic as all that. Perhaps one day in the Wilderness, we’ll stumble upon the main ingredient for a Foundation Establishment Pill, or a key supplementary material. Then we could gather a few Fellow Daoists and refine a batch together. Wouldn’t that be a chance? As the saying goes, ’The Great Dao has fifty variables, the heavens divine forty-nine, and one is left for man.’ There’s always a sliver of a chance left for us!"

"Indeed, indeed!"

...

Lin Changheng didn’t bother listening to the rest of their conversation. The two men, who had been filled with lofty ambitions just a moment ago, had somehow inexplicably pivoted to discussing a certain Courtesan Fairy, and even began debating her skills in bed. Such a smooth topic change left Lin Changheng speechless.

He returned his focus to the meal. Having eaten and drunk his fill, Lin Changheng, thoroughly satisfied, finally took his leave.

’Spiritual Food truly has marvelous effects. Once this meal is fully digested and absorbed, the benefits will be equivalent to three days of arduous cultivation.’

But he did not slow his pace.

He returned home quickly and carefully sealed away the insufficient quantity of Profound Spirit Essence Blood.

Afterward, he immersed himself in comprehending the Five Elements Returning Origin Pill Scripture.

...

「Another year passed in the blink of an eye.」 Time, like sand slipping through fingers, is impossible to hold.

This year, Lin Changheng turned fifty-seven!

The age of sixty, the great deadline for Foundation Establishment, was just around the corner.

’My condition is still quite good. My body has not yet begun to feel old; my Qi and Blood are ample, showing no signs of decline.’

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in a large tub, circulating the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood as his body continuously absorbed the essence of the Body Refining Materials within the water.

He had just completed his Introspection and let out a soft breath.

’It would be a lie to say there was no pressure. After all, the idea that breaking through to Foundation Establishment after sixty is nearly impossible was an almost universally accepted fact.’

’Fortunately, my Lifespan is ample, and I’ve maintained my body well. By avoiding conflict and strife, I’ve accumulated no hidden injuries, which is why my condition is so good.’

’This rule, too, would prove invalid for me.’

Suddenly, a subtle, sharp pain prickled his skin, as if countless tiny wooden splinters were moving just beneath the surface.

At the same time, fine, cyan-colored wood grain patterns began to spread through his flesh and blood, expanding layer by layer like the growth rings of an ancient tree.

The jade-green liquid in the tub began to churn violently, surging as it drilled forcefully through his pores and into his body.

"HUFF—"

The influx was so abrupt and fierce that even Lin Changheng couldn’t help but suck in a sharp breath.

’This is... the catalyst for a breakthrough!’

Understanding dawned on Lin Changheng. His gaze sharpened, and he continued to operate the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood, ravenously absorbing the essence of the Spiritual Materials.

The technique continued to run, the accumulation continued to build, and a transformation was brewing within.

The liquid in the tub was becoming clear and transparent at a rate visible to the naked eye!

’Still not enough.’

He frowned at once. With a sweep of his Magical Power, he drew the spare Spiritual Materials he had set aside directly into the tub, replenishing the depleted essence.

BUZZ—

An unknown amount of time passed before a muffled grunt escaped Lin Changheng. A series of crisp CRACKING sounds echoed from his spine as his thirty-three vertebrae began to transform, one after the other, like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, each taking on a deep cyan hue.

His muscle fibers began to twist and restructure, forming a peculiar, deep-seated pattern like a network of interlocking tree roots.

BANG!

Unable to withstand the sudden eruption of physical power, the tub instantly exploded.

Lin Changheng stood naked amidst the scattered debris. His body had completely taken on the color of cyan jade, glowing with a soft luster under the moonlight that streamed through the window. Despite its gentle appearance, a ferocious aura now radiated from his entire being!

The contrast was jarring!

"It’s done!"

"The Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood has finally reached the Fourth Layer!"

He gently stroked his arm. The contact between his fingertips and skin produced a low, metallic clang. He had achieved Tier Two of Body Refining.

He was no longer the Pseudo-Tier Two of before—a state achieved by stacking his Cultivation Technique with multiple Abnormal Techniques—nor was he a flawed, Specialized Tier Two. This was true, genuine Tier Two Body Refining!

His physical constitution was now on par with a Tier Two Early Stage Demon Beast!

Combined with his arsenal of Abnormal Techniques, Demon Techniques, and Divine Abilities, he now possessed the power to contend with even an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator!

If such a cultivator were careless enough to let him get close, they might even be torn limb from limb.

More importantly—

’Tier Two of Body Refining, the Fourth Layer of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood, no hidden injuries, a nearly flawless physical body, an ample Lifespan, and no deficiency in my foundation... The Mountain of Essence can be easily surmounted! It is no longer an obstacle!’

Lin Changheng carefully compared his state to the Foundation Establishment Insights provided by Mo Zhaoli, and his eyes grew startlingly bright.

"This means my preparations for Foundation Establishment have taken a huge, solid step forward!"

...

「Three days later.」

Lin Changheng once again retrieved a batch of Jade Wave Spirit Turtle Essence Blood from the Spirit Wine Tower at Huangliang Residence.

When gathered together, he had over a hundred portions!

Lin Changheng discovered that since this batch of Essence Blood came from a Tier Two Demon Beast, each portion could provide one full point of progress for Spirit Stealing.

Previously, the accumulation efficiency from a Tier One Demon Beast had been only half of this; it took two portions of Essence Blood to gain one point.

This corresponded to the increased efficiency of his Origin Treasure Seed, to which his Cultivation was closely related.

He directly connected to the Primordial Cauldron to begin Spirit Stealing.

[Jade Wave Spirit Turtle Treasure Seed: Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Utility: A Profound Spirit Demon Beast Bloodline, granting a natural water affinity. Possesses the Lifebound Talents: Concealing Breath, Summoning Mist, and Longevity. Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one may be chosen and Refined into the user.]

...

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.