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

Chapter 149 Body Refinement Stage Two, Profound Spirit Talent

Inside the Earth Pavilion.

Suddenly, Lin Changheng opened his tightly closed eyes, his gaze flashing like lightning as he looked down at the audience through the spiritual mist.

On the enormous white jade auction stage, the female cultivator smiled, her red lips slightly parted:
"This is the 'Five Elements Returning to Origin Elixir Scripture,' a mid-grade second-tier elixir cultivation lineage. It originated from a declining alchemy family, and to this day, none of its descendants possess the talent for alchemy—a truly regrettable situation! Furthermore, we are currently facing an urgent matter and lack spirit stones, hence this auction..."

When introducing the auction items, the female officiant even shared a past experience.

Lin Changheng knew that this was just a rhetoric to increase credibility, and at the same time, he could use the changing times to stir up emotions and attract attention.

"The starting bid is one thousand low-grade spirit stones. Each bid must be at least one hundred low-grade spirit stones. The auction is now open. Please submit your bids!"

As soon as the female abbess finished speaking, the sound of bidding echoed throughout the hall.

"One thousand one hundred!"

"I'll offer 1,300!"

"Fifteen hundred!"

Prices soared and soon broke through the two thousand mark.

Lin Changheng sat quietly inside the Dizi Pavilion, his fingertips lightly tapping the armrest, his expression serene.

His gaze swept over the bidders below, passing over the cultivators who were bidding, searching for the final contender.

Soon, he noticed a clear female voice continuously quoting prices from the side pavilion.

The area was also shrouded in mist, so he couldn't see clearly.

Lin Changheng initially thought it was a female cultivator competing for the position, but he was unaware that a gaunt male cultivator wearing a bronze mask sat inside, remaining silent throughout. However, he would nod slightly between each bid, at which point the maidservant sitting in his lap, her clothes half-undone, would immediately call out a price.

"Two thousand seven hundred!"

"Three thousand!"

When the price soared to three thousand low-grade spirit stones, the room gradually quieted down. This figure was beyond the means of most cultivators, or rather, their families.

There were only scattered quotes.

"Three thousand one hundred."

"Hmph, three thousand two hundred!"

After a slow and arduous increase to "three thousand five hundred," the presiding female cultivator looked around, about to initiate the final procedure—

"Three thousand eight hundred."

A clear, cold voice suddenly came from above. Upon hearing this, all the cultivators looked up towards the source of the voice, but they could only see the mist swirling around the Earth Pavilion, with no one in sight.

Another monk in the elegant pavilion, wearing a bronze mask, shoved aside the maidservant on his back, stood up abruptly, wiped his wet fingers with his scattered undergarments, and a hoarse, cold snort came from beneath the mask: "Four thousand!"

"Four thousand three hundred." The voice from the Earth Pavilion remained calm, as if they were discussing a trivial matter.

The masked monk clenched his fists so tightly they cracked, glanced menacingly in the direction of the sound, and finally decided to give up.

He had reliable information that a Foundation Establishment spiritual item would be the grand finale of the auction, making the competition even fiercer. He couldn't afford to waste a lot of spirit stones and weaken his competitiveness.

On the jade platform, the female cultivator presiding over the ceremony asked three times without receiving a response, and then declared definitively: "Congratulations to this distinguished guest from the Earth Pavilion!"

Lin Changheng's expression immediately relaxed slightly after acquiring the inheritance for a value of 4,300 coins.

He was still afraid that the "female cultivator" would lose her temper and argue with him to the bitter end, which would be very bad.

This is not just a [Second-Order Mid-Grade Alchemy Inheritance], but also a crucial juncture in his foundation-building plan.

We must take it no matter what.

If they fight to the very end and even get their wish, they'll probably suffer serious damage.

Fortunately, in the last two rounds, he heard a deep, hoarse male voice suddenly emerge from that elegant room, which put his mind at ease.

Before long, an old man at the ninth level of Qi Refining came to knock on the door and handed over the auction items.

"That's convenient."

Previously, participants had to retrieve their items from the backstage area themselves, which was not only inconvenient but also risked missing out on auction items.

After accepting the spirit stones, the old man used a hand seal to open the wooden box that was sealed with a restriction, revealing a pale blue, ancient jade slip and a yellowed demon leather letter.

"good."

Lin Changheng took it, examined it briefly, and nodded.

"Then I shall take my leave. The auction is still ongoing, so I will not disturb you any longer."

The transaction was completed, and the old man left, thoughtfully closing the door behind him.

After sitting for a while, about seven or eight items were auctioned off. When a particularly valuable item that everyone was interested in was brought to the stage and caused a bidding frenzy, Lin Changheng, who had adjusted his appearance, immediately left.

He had no desire for the grand finale item, nor any curiosity about the possible Foundation Establishment spiritual objects or Foundation Establishment pills.

Without enough spirit stones, thinking about it is pointless.

Lin Changheng was very clear about one thing: he just wanted to return quietly and peacefully, after all, he possessed a second-tier alchemy inheritance worth more than four thousand spirit stones.

After quickly arriving in the inner city, Lin Changheng did not go straight back. Instead, he circled the streets again, making sure no one was following him, before reverting to his original appearance and heading home.

……

Day three.

Lin Changheng went to the Lingjiu Restaurant called Huangliangju in the inner city center.

This is where Chef Zeng worked.

He came here to collect the essence blood of the second-tier demon beast, [Azure Wave Spirit Turtle], as agreed.

This building is five stories high and constructed of sandalwood. It has an antique charm, and stepping inside makes it even more magnificent, reminiscent of the imperial palace.

At the same time, a fragrant aroma wafted over, making one's throat salivate.

"Sir, would you like some food? How many are in your party?"

A waiter immediately came over with a big smile on his face.

"No need for a meal, I'm here on business."

Lin Changheng chuckled.

"Business? What business?" The waiter was taken aback and became somewhat wary. Why would someone come to Lingjiu Restaurant not to eat, but to "business"?

However, this person appears quite upright and should not be one of those swindlers and con artists.

"I came here to pick up something at the invitation of Chef Zeng from Yingguilou."

"Oh, you are Master Lin Dan?"

The waiter slapped his forehead, looking as if he had just realized something. "Please wait a moment, I'll go and fetch our manager."

Lin Changheng nodded, and soon a male cultivator with a mustache arrived with a smile. "Master Lin! Chief Zeng has already given instructions regarding the matter of the demon beast's essence blood. Please have a seat, and I will go and fetch it right away."

"It's troublesome."

Lin Changheng smiled and nodded.

It's important to be courteous, as we'll be dealing with each other frequently in the future.

Before long, Lin Changheng had a wooden box in his storage bag, which contained the [Mysterious Spirit Essence Blood] that he had been longing for.

There are six portions!

Its inner blue color is like the ocean of a past life, extremely beautiful.

After paying the spirit stones at the fair price, Lin Changheng was about to leave when the steward called him back, and he immediately looked puzzled.

"Chief Zeng has arranged a table of spiritual food and wine for you and specifically instructed us to invite you to enjoy it."

The manager smiled.

"How could I possibly accept this..." Lin Changheng waved his hands repeatedly, wanting to refuse, but after much persuasion from the steward, he could only agree: "Very well, it's hard to refuse such kindness."

Faced with a table full of delicacies, Lin Changheng clicked his tongue in amazement.

Chef Zeng was truly generous; this meal was worth at least fifty spirit stones. As they ate, they could hear conversations from the next table.

"Foundation Establishment spiritual items? Could it be referring to the auction from recently?"

Lin Changheng glanced over and saw that the two people at that table were both in the late stage of Qi Refining, around the seventh or eighth level, and were talking while eating.

He immediately slowed his chopsticks and listened intently.

Sure enough, one of them said, "Tsk tsk, that auction was incredibly hot! Not only were Foundation Establishment spiritual items up for auction, fetching tens of thousands of spirit stones, but even Foundation Establishment Pills appeared..."

"Foundation Building Pill? Wasn't it supposed to only appear once every ten years at the grand auction?"

His tablemate gasped, but that didn't stop him from looking on with anticipation.

Lin Changheng was equally surprised, and while listening, he poured a cup of spiritual wine into his mouth.

"That being said, the Foundation Establishment Pill did indeed appear as the grand finale, which I witnessed and heard with my own eyes and ears!"

The first person to speak said decisively, "However, that pill is a second-rate product, not a first-rate one."

"Defective product?"

"You are unaware of this. The inferior grade of the Foundation Establishment Pill also has the effects of the genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, but it has half a percent less chance of success in establishing the foundation compared to the genuine pill. At the same time, its function of protecting the dantian from damage is also reduced by nearly half."

The first person to speak had clearly done their homework; their explanation was logical and well-reasoned, and largely accurate.

"I see. You are very knowledgeable, brother. I admire you. May I ask how many spirit stones were spent on the Foundation Establishment Pill this time?"

The other person would offer appropriate flattery, making the other person's face light up with pleasure, before asking further questions.

"Nearly 16,000!"

The first person to speak uttered a number.

"Wow, so many? Does that mean the auction price for genuine Foundation Establishment Pills is heading towards the 25,000 mark?"

The other person clicked his tongue in amazement, his eyes gleaming as if he were calculating when he would be able to accumulate so many spirit stones.

"Yes, so this is something that we poor, wandering cultivators could never imagine."

The first person to speak also sighed, his face showing sadness.

"Does that mean we have no hope of ever achieving Foundation Establishment in this lifetime?"

"It's not that pessimistic. Perhaps one day we'll find the main ingredients or key auxiliary ingredients for Foundation Establishment Pills in the wilderness, and then find a few fellow cultivators to refine a batch of Foundation Establishment Pills together. Wouldn't that be an opportunity? As the saying goes, 'The Great Dao is fifty, the Heavenly Dao is forty-nine, and man escapes one.' There's always a glimmer of hope left for us!"

"Yes, yes!"

……

Lin Changheng didn't listen to what they said next, because just a moment ago they were full of ambition, but inexplicably they had turned to a certain courtesan, and even started discussing bedroom skills... This smooth transition left Lin Changheng speechless.

He then focused on his meal, and after eating and drinking his fill, Lin Changheng truly enjoyed himself before taking his leave.

“Spiritual food is indeed wonderful. Once the spiritual food in my stomach is digested and absorbed, it is no less effective than three days of arduous cultivation.”

But his pace was not slow.

They quickly arrived home and sealed away the insufficient amount of [Mystic Spirit Essence Blood].

He then devoted himself to studying the "Five Elements Returning to Origin Elixir Classic".

……

Another year has passed in the blink of an eye. Time is like sand slipping through your fingers; it's impossible to hold onto it.

That year, Lin Changheng was fifty-seven years old!
The age of sixty is just around the corner, which is also the critical period for laying a solid foundation.

"I am in good condition. My body is still young, my blood and energy are abundant, and I have not declined."

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in the bathtub, circulating the "Evergreen Body of Azure Wood" technique, his body continuously absorbing the essence of the body-refining materials.

He had finished his internal examination and let out a soft breath.

It's impossible to say there's no pressure, after all, it's almost a universally acknowledged view that it's difficult to establish a foundation after the age of sixty.

Fortunately, Lin Changheng has a long lifespan and takes good care of himself, avoiding conflict and fighting, so he has no hidden injuries and is in good condition.

This rule will also not apply to him.

Suddenly, a slight stinging sensation came from my skin, as if countless tiny splinters were crawling under my skin.

At the same time, fine blue wood grain spreads through the flesh and blood, like the rings of an old tree.

The emerald green medicinal liquid in the bathtub churned and surged violently, seeping into the body through the pores.

"Whoo~"

The commotion was so sudden and intense that even Lin Changheng couldn't help but gasp.

"This is... the opportunity for a breakthrough!"

Lin Changheng suddenly understood, his gaze narrowed slightly, and he continued to circulate the "Evergreen Body of Azure Wood" to swallow the essence of the spiritual materials into his body.

The practice continues, the accumulation continues, and changes are brewing.

The medicinal liquid in the bucket also became clear and transparent at a speed visible to the naked eye!

"not enough."

He frowned immediately, and with a wave of his magic, he pulled over the spare spiritual materials lying to the side and put them into the bucket to replenish the supplies.

"Om~"

After an unknown amount of time, Lin Changheng let out a muffled groan, and his spine made a cracking sound. His thirty-three vertebrae seemed to sprout like bamboo shoots after a spring rain, transforming and turning a bluish-green color.

The muscle fibers begin to twist and reorganize, forming a unique pattern deep within the muscle fibers, resembling intertwined tree roots.

"boom!"

The bathtub couldn't withstand the sudden surge of physical energy and shattered instantly.

Lin Changheng stood naked amidst the debris, his body completely transformed into a bluish-green jade color, gleaming with a warm luster under the moonlight streaming through the window, yet exuding a fierce aura!

The contrast is striking!
"It's done!"

"The Evergreen Body has finally reached the fourth level!"

He gently stroked his arm, and the touch of his fingertips against his skin produced a dull, resonant sound. He had thus achieved the second stage of body refinement.

It is no longer the "pseudo-second stage" that relied on the superposition of various cultivation methods and techniques, or the flawed "second stage with one specialty", but a true second stage body refinement!
Its physique is comparable to that of a second-stage early-stage demonic beast!
With his unique magical arts, demonic arts, and supernatural powers, he could even put up a fight against someone in the early stages of Foundation Establishment!
If the latter is accidentally approached, there is a possibility of being torn apart.

more importantly--

"Body Refinement Stage 2, Evergreen Body Level 4, no hidden injuries, physical body nearly flawless, lifespan abundant, essence intact, [Mountain of Essence] can be easily penetrated and will no longer be an obstacle!"

Lin Changheng carefully compared the [Foundation Building Insights] given by Mo Zhaoli, his eyes shining even brighter, an astonishingly bright light.
"This means that the foundation-building preparations have taken a solid step forward!"

……

Three days later.

Lin Changheng retrieved another batch of Bibo Ling'ao essence blood from the spirit wine restaurant of Huangliangju.

They were all gathered together, totaling over a hundred portions!
Lin Changheng discovered that because this batch of essence blood belonged to a second-tier demon beast, each portion of essence blood could actually steal one point of progress from the spirit.

Previously, the accumulation efficiency of a first-tier demon beast was only half of what it is now, requiring two portions of essence blood to extract one point of spirit.

This aligns with the efficiency increase of the Primal Treasure Seed, and cultivation level is closely related to it.

It directly connects with the Yuan Ding to seize the spirit.

[Azure Wave Spirit Turtle Treasure Seed - In the Process of Spirit Transformation]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Effects: Bloodline of a Xuanling demon beast, naturally endowed with water-related abilities, possessing innate talents of concealing breath, summoning mist, and prolonging life; upon successful acquisition of the spirit-seizing technique, one can choose to refine one of these abilities.]

……

(End of this chapter)