Chapter 414: Chapter 265: Zephyr Thunder Liquid, Qing Lan Wanderer (Part 2)

Lin Changheng flipped his hand, revealing the piece of wood. The object in his palm was now a world apart from the unremarkable piece of "charcoal" it once was!

The deathly, charred-black color that had once covered it completely was now mostly gone. Only about thirty percent remained, clinging stubbornly like a mottled old scab.

The seventy percent of the main body that was revealed after shedding this "charred shell" had recovered its mysterious and profound dark-azure hue!

This dark-azure color was far from monotonous. Upon closer inspection, the wood’s surface was covered in countless fine, intricate natural patterns.

It emanated a profound aura of antiquity, vastness, and immortality.

The entire piece of wood was still surprisingly heavy in his hand, but its texture had transformed from rough and lifeless to warm and smooth, like jade.

This was the result of Lin Changheng’s long, careful, and persistent tempering with the Red Sky Profound Flame! The power of the Exotic Fire, like the most delicate carving knife, had slowly refined away the accumulated impurities and lifeless aura, allowing the wood’s true nature to gradually emerge.

Lin Changheng had a growing premonition that this was an extraordinary piece of Exotic Wood.

But despite searching through numerous ancient texts and records, he had found no mention of it.

Even so, he finally decided to refine this item into a Magical Treasure Embryo.

According to the Method of Refining Treasure Embryo he had obtained from Zhang Shouyi, he still needed to gather a few more key, basic Spiritual Materials.

For example, Centennial Warm Jade would be needed for shaping, and Five Elements Spirit Ointment to balance the conflicting attributes of the different Spiritual Materials.

In addition, he needed a variety of other miscellaneous Spiritual Materials, which would also take time to gather.

Ultimately, however, the best course of action was to find a suitable High Tier Technique and then refine a compatible Magical Treasure. The two would then be able to reinforce one another, each relying on the other for strength.

...

「Two days later.」

The grand celebration for Elder Kong’s breakthrough to Tier Three Alchemy officially began.

It was held on the newly established Heaven-Questioning Island in the middle of Fusheng Lake!

Auspicious clouds gathered in the sky above the island as ethereal music drifted through the air. On the vast White Jade Plaza below, a sea of guests had already assembled.

Representatives from various Sects, Cultivation Families, and expert Independent Practitioners from all over the Song Country had converged here. With the auras of more than ten Core Formation Masters present, it was a truly unprecedented gathering of elites.

In the center of the plaza, the towering illusion of a Pill Furnace stood majestically, its mouth wreathed in a seven-colored radiance. It symbolized the prosperity of the Alchemy Dao and was a display of sheer magnificence.

The auspicious hour arrived. A bell chimed nine times, the sound carrying for miles.

As everyone watched, Elder Kong slowly ascended the central high platform.

He was not wearing an Alchemist Robe today, but a simple, Deep Purple Daoist Robe. His hair and beard were meticulously groomed, his complexion was ruddy, and his gentle eyes held an indescribable depth.

He didn’t say much, simply smiling and clasping his hands in a salute to the guests in all directions. He naturally exuded the impressive air of a great master.

After a brief opening, the celebration moved to its main event—a discourse on the Dao!

Elder Kong hadn’t chosen to give a public alchemy demonstration—a method that, while more spectacular, risked revealing his unique techniques. Instead, he chose a grander approach that would benefit all the Cultivators present: a public discourse to share the insights he gained while advancing to Tier Three Pill Master and his understanding of the very source of the Alchemy Dao!

This was an established custom in the Cultivation Realm.

It was also a way to prove one’s skill.

He sat on a cushion atop the high platform. His voice was calm and soothing, yet it carried clearly across the entirety of Heaven-Questioning Island, even passing through the Array to echo over Fusheng Lake.

"What is the nature of a Pill Maker? It is not merely to refine medicine with fire, but to harmonize yin and yang, to seize the very workings of creation from heaven and earth..."

Elder Kong began with the most fundamental principles—how Medicinal Properties can both enhance and suppress one another. He gradually delved deeper, explaining how with flame control, "the slightest lapse in concentration can result in a world of difference," and analyzing the delicate "balance of water and fire" needed when fusing Medicinal Power...

He didn’t lecture on any specific Pill Formulas. Instead, he spoke directly to the essence of the Alchemy Dao as he understood it, every word a pearl of wisdom. Below the platform, all the Cultivators, whether they were Pill Masters or not, listened in rapt fascination.

Lin Changheng’s Heart and Spirit were also shaken, and he became completely engrossed.

His eyes flickered with understanding; he was benefiting immensely.

The discourse lasted for a full two hours.

When Elder Kong’s voice faded, the entire plaza was silent as everyone remained immersed in the lingering resonance of the Dao. A moment later, someone started it, and a thunderous wave of applause and heartfelt praise erupted, soaring to the heavens!

"A single talk with you is worth more than ten years of study!"

"Elder Kong has the bearing of a true grandmaster! We are in awe!"

...

Lin Changheng, however, felt that some of these concepts could be of use to him. ’This is the key,’ he thought, ’the key to unlocking Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemy.’

’With this, I can break through my current Realm!’

And so, Lin Changheng blocked out all sounds from the outside world.

His mind raced, frantically deducing, verifying, and comparing the new ideas.

At that very moment, however, Bai Hengwan was standing stiffly on a high, secluded platform. It was shrouded in swirling mists, hidden from view but offering a perfect vantage point over the entire plaza.

On this platform, a dozen or so figures were faintly visible, seated with varying degrees of imposing might. They were all, shockingly, Cultivators at the Fake Core Realm or above, observing the ceremony.

In front of Bai Hengwan sat a poised, long-bearded Cultivator with a handsome face and a full head of black hair, dressed in a Purple Jade Robe.

To judge by his face, one would think him no older than his early twenties.

But not the slightest fluctuation of Spiritual Power leaked from his body; he seemed to have merged completely with the surrounding mist.

And yet, Bai Hengwan subconsciously held her breath. Her posture was one of utmost respect, filled with a visible trace of awe. For the man before her was her Master, the true lord of Floating Immortal City, the Qing Lan Wanderer! A Late Stage Core Formation Master whose Cultivation was unfathomably deep!

"Master," Bai Hengwan said softly, "that Cultivator in the green robe listening so intently is Alchemist Lin, Lin Changheng."

The Qing Lan Wanderer gave no response, his calm gaze still fixed on the crowd in the plaza below. His eyes were as tranquil as an ancient well, seemingly capable of piercing through any illusion. His focus was especially on Lin Changheng.

But Lin Changheng, despite his usually sharp perception, seemed completely unaware of the gaze and remained perfectly still, appearing lost in his deductions.

After a moment, a gentle yet infinitely majestic voice slowly rang out from the high platform. "This young man’s Divine Soul is condensed, his Magical Power is solid, and his aptitude is indeed quite good. He is a talent worth nurturing. Junior Brother Kong’s concepts on the Alchemy Dao are highly compatible with his own. For him, this lecture is like a welcome rain after a long drought."

His tone shifted slightly. Though still placid, his words made Bai Hengwan’s heart tighten. "However, Wan’Er, do you know why I had you make contact with him, yet told you not to be anxious to bind him completely to your cause?"

Bai Hengwan paused, slightly taken aback. She lowered her head and said, "Please enlighten me, Master."

The Qing Lan Wanderer said calmly, "A fine talent is like a beautiful piece of jade: it must be carved slowly and carefully. Forcing it will only cause it to shatter. It is no small feat for a mere Loose Cultivator to have come this far. His affinity with Junior Brother Kong is his own good fortune. You need only maintain a positive connection and watch how things develop. Forcing someone to pick a side before the true storm arrives is not the act of a wise person."

His words were profound. He was not only pointing out Lin Changheng’s value but also teaching Bai Hengwan a more sophisticated way of managing people and leveraging power—the art of winning by not contending.

A look of sudden understanding dawned on Bai Hengwan’s face. "I understand," she replied respectfully. "Thank you for your guidance, Master."

"True understanding lies in the heart, not on the tongue."

The Qing Lan Wanderer chuckled softly and said no more.

Hearing this, Bai Hengwan blushed slightly and fell silent, at a loss for words.

’Still,’ she wondered, ’why is it that someone with Master’s power, even after observing Lin Changheng so closely, hasn’t detected the Red Sky Profound Flame hidden within him...?’

...

Meanwhile, Lin Changheng, though outwardly calm and still deep in Meditation, felt his heart begin to pound.

’Just now, I felt an incredibly subtle—or perhaps, a gaze from an entirely different dimension—fall upon me.’

’Logically, I shouldn’t have been able to perceive it, but my Smell the Wind and Distinguish Spirits technique gave me a warning.’

’And my Smell the Wind and Distinguish Spirits Secret Technique has only just reached the Skilled level.’

’I never would have thought it would be this effective already.’

’That could only have been the gaze of a Core Formation Cultivator... and to be able to detect it...’

Lin Changheng realized he had seriously underestimated the Utility of the Smell the Wind and Distinguish Spirits Secret Technique.

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