Chapter 166: Chapter 152: A Fair Lady’s Affection, Another Demon Technique

"Thank you for all your trouble, Li’Er."

Lin Changheng looked at her and spoke from the heart.

He knew that for Mo Zhaoli, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator, to do all this and help him was entirely out of their prior friendship—something truly rare.

’I remember the cautionary tales from my past life about the "first sword drawn ashore"—betrayals driven by something as minor as a graduate becoming an official, which was at best a preliminary chance to cross class lines.’

’How utterly cold-hearted!’

But Mo Zhaoli’s breakthrough to Foundation Establishment had been a fundamental transformation—a monumental leap in her personal strength, her status as a Cultivator, her lifespan, and her progress on the Immortal Dao. Despite all that, she still cherished their friendship.

That was even more precious.

Now that Lin Changheng’s Alchemy Dao had broken through to Tier Two, he could finally reciprocate in terms of material benefits.

...

"Brother Lin, please take a look."

A smile played on Mo Zhaoli’s lips.

"Alright!"

Lin Changheng agreed, reaching out to lift the box’s lid.

A box filled to the brim with sealed vials of Essence Blood was revealed, a dazzling sight.

The Profound Spirit Essence Blood on the top layer was a deep, incomparable crimson, its spiritual energy twinkling. It was rich and potent, instantly recognizable.

There were more than sixty vials in total.

’This must be the Essence Blood of the Red-eyed Fire Demon, acquired from that senior in the Sect,’ Lin Changheng thought to himself.

Just then, seeing Lin Changheng stroking a vial of Essence Blood in his hand, Mo Zhaoli explained, "After I replied to your letter, that senior from the Sect contacted me again, asking if I wanted more Red-eyed Fire Demon Essence Blood."

"He’s gotten used to selling to me. He saw that I’d take everything and pay with Spirit Stones without any fuss, which saved him the trouble of finding other buyers. So he just started coming to me first."

"Of course, I bought it. Another thirty vials."

Lin Changheng immediately smiled. "When it comes to Essence Blood like this, the more the better."

He then looked at the layer below, where the Essence Blood shimmered with an earthy yellow light.

It was all Mountain-moving Ape Essence Blood!

He couldn’t help but click his tongue in astonishment. "Surely the Purple Extreme Sect hasn’t hunted the Mountain-moving Apes to extinction?"

Hearing this, Mo Zhaoli chuckled lightly. "Of course not. The Wilderness is endless, and so are the Demon Beasts. It’s just that for a while now, there has been a continuous demand within the Sect for the long tails of the Mountain-moving Apes, which is why this type of Essence Blood is being produced steadily."

"As it happens, the Qi Cultivation disciples on this long-term mission are acquainted with me. Since I expressed my desire to purchase the blood, basically all of it ended up in my hands."

A quick calculation told him the contents were worth nearly two thousand Spirit Stones.

After taking all the Essence Blood, Lin Changheng also took out a bag of Spirit Stones and handed it to her.

To his surprise, Mo Zhaoli stopped him with a gentle hand.

"Li’Er..." Lin Changheng frowned.

’Emotions and mutual benefits could get intertwined, but when it came to Spirit Stones, it was best to keep the accounts separate.’

Mo Zhaoli gave a gentle smile, swiped her Storage Bag again, and took out a pile of Alchemy Medicinal Materials and a Pill Formula Jade Scroll.

"Brother Lin, Li’Er has a request of her own, as I mentioned in my letter. Could it be that Brother Lin is unwilling to perform Alchemy for me?"

"Of course not." Lin Changheng now understood what she meant.

"Here are ten sets of Medicinal Materials and the Pill Formula for the Tier Two Water Rhythm Jade Dew Pill. I’d like to ask Brother Lin to open his furnace and help with the Refining."

Her eyes shimmering like water, Mo Zhaoli pursed her lips in a soft smile. "As for all this Essence Blood I’ve collected, just consider it my Furnace Opening Fee. In fact, given Brother Lin’s status as a Tier Two Alchemist, your services should be worth far more. If anything, I’m the one taking advantage of you..."

"Very well. I’ll do as you say, Li’Er."

Left with no rebuttal, Lin Changheng could only sigh, rise to his feet, and agree.

"Now you’re being good."

Who would have known that Mo Zhaoli would give a playful smile, look at Lin Changheng, stick her tongue out coquettishly, and say such a thing?

It was completely at odds with her status as a Foundation Establishment cultivator and her usual mature, gentle demeanor.

"You cheeky girl!"

For a moment, Lin Changheng was in a daze, as if he were seeing the Mo Zhaoli of forty years ago. A nostalgic laugh escaped him.

On an impulse, he stepped forward, his hand reaching up to stroke the Foundation Establishment Fairy’s silken hair, just as he remembered.

Mo Zhaoli’s delicate body stiffened instantly. She clearly hadn’t expected Brother Lin, who had always treated her with courtesy and kept his distance, to suddenly make such a move...

’An intimate gesture like this... it feels surprisingly familiar...’

A brief moment of recollection brought it all back.

So much so that she didn’t instinctively pull away or refuse.

Under the influence of the Seventh Layer Origin Treasure Seed, Lin Changheng came to his senses almost instantly. His hand froze, a sense of impropriety washing over him. Just as he was about to pull away and explain, he saw that the Foundation Establishment Fairy hadn’t rejected him. Instead, she leaned her head slightly into his hand, even nuzzling it gently like a kitten...

"This..."

Warmth bloomed in Lin Changheng’s chest as he instantly understood. The old feelings he held for her clearly meant a great deal to Mo Zhaoli.

After a long moment, the two separated as if nothing had happened.

Mo Zhaoli then spoke about some matters regarding her Cultivation after reaching Foundation Establishment.

She had been at Foundation Establishment for over six years before finally breaking through to the Second Layer Foundation Establishment a short while ago. Among the other Foundation Establishment Cultivators in the Sect, her Cultivation speed was considered average, but she wasn’t satisfied. She believed she could be faster.

Because she had a very clear goal: Core Formation!

But to cultivate faster and go further, one couldn’t do without resources.

Therefore, after careful consideration, she decided to stop living the leisurely Cultivation life of a Foundation Establishment cultivator. Instead, she would work hard, taking on more missions to earn Sect resources, just as she had before her breakthrough.

To reinvest in her Cultivation.

When she told her grandfather, the Ink Master, about this decision, she received his firm support. It was a shot in the arm for Mo Zhaoli.

At the same time, the Ink Master also decided to return to the Xu Family.

Since Mo Zhaoli would be away from the Sect for long periods, it was meaningless for him to guard a cave abode alone. He might as well go back.

A familiar environment, with old friends and clan members for company—life would be more interesting there.

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