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

Chapter 168 Returning to Familiar Places, Laying the Foundation (Seeking Monthly Tickets)
It takes nearly a month to ride the Azure Dragon Horse from Qinglingfang to Ziji Mountain, and about half a year to ride the Azure Dragon Horse from Ziji Mountain to Fusheng Immortal City.

These are all distances that Lin Changheng actually measured on horseback.

But now, piloting a superior magic boat, Lin Changheng only traveled for a little over two months before seeing the familiar [Zichuanfang].

The speed of the Dharma Boat impressed Lin Changheng greatly.

Lin Changheng, who stood at the bow of the magic boat with his hands behind his back, showed no signs of fatigue, because the kinetic energy was provided by spirit stones loaded into the small arrays engraved on the magic boat.

It can greatly preserve mana.

You only need to use your divine sense to control the direction.

Speaking of the Azure Dragon Horse, it's worth mentioning that Lin Changheng did not break his promise to set it free.

Upon arriving at the Immortal City, Lin Changheng stopped his horse to gaze into the distance, then untied the reins of the Azure Dragon Horse and set it free.

There was no one nearby at the time, and the Azure Dragon Horse could have simply left. However, perhaps due to its long-term domestication, it developed a fear of the outside world and remained motionless, not leaving, but instead snorting at Lin Changheng.

Left with no other choice, Lin Changheng had to entrust the horse to the Chemazhuang outside the city, a special place opened by the Immortal City for the entrustment of horses and vehicles.

Lin Changheng paid over a dozen spirit stones, enough to keep the horse for several years.

Later, when visiting the Cheng family, he gave them a token, hoping they would treat the horse well.

Although they lacked connections at the time, the horse was not cheap and could be used for transport work, so they did not refuse.

Two years ago, Lin Changheng's status was completely different; he even visited the Cheng family's backyard once.

Although the horse was old at the time, it was in good condition and was well treated by the Cheng family. It was in a state of retirement, and its feed consisted of medicinal residues and roots, so it was quite well-fed and comfortable.

……

Upon seeing the somewhat dilapidated [Zichuanfang], Lin Changheng lowered the boat and swept it over with his divine sense.

They discovered that the place wasn't completely abandoned; there were still cultivators coming and going, mortals sweeping the floor, and some shops operating.

However, with the grand formation gone, safety cannot be guaranteed.

After all, he spent twelve years there, which were the most desperate days of his life and the most hopeful starting point.

With a thought, Lin Changheng directly controlled the magic boat to land in a nearby dense forest.

With his speed, he quickly arrived at the entrance of the market. There was no one guarding it, nor was anyone collecting an entrance fee.

That's how I got in.

Lin Changheng stepped onto the familiar street and first arrived at the Xu family's alchemy shop, which was not abandoned but replaced by a robe shop.

The interior was simply decorated, and one could vaguely see what it used to look like.

"Fellow Daoist, what do you need?" A middle-aged woman at the second level of Qi Refining greeted him with a warm smile.

Then he paused, "Huh?"

"Could it be that I stayed up too late making robes last night and was so tired that my eyes were blurry?"

I rubbed my eyes in disbelief, but there was still nothing in front of me; it didn't look like anyone had ever been there.

That's strange...

……

After leaving Danpu, Lin Changheng flashed and arrived at the small courtyard where he used to rent a place.

What used to take him a long time to walk here, he can now cover in just a few moments.

The courtyard in front of me had mottled walls and was empty, with the gate ajar, looking like it had been neglected and uninhabited for many years.

With a slight step, he had already entered the room.

The courtyard was overgrown with weeds, and the fishpond was filled with rainwater and piled with dead leaves, clearly indicating that it had been neglected for many years.

He walked slowly toward the main house and pushed open the half-rotten wooden door.

"Squeak-"

The door hinges creaked and groaned, and dust fell in rustling sounds. The room was dimly lit and simply furnished: a wooden table, two chairs, and the familiar low couch in the corner.

Back then, after failing to blow up the furnace, feeling dazed and soaking wet, he was lying on this wooden table when he "saw" the Yuan Ding in his sea of ​​consciousness that would change his destiny.

Without lingering, Lin Changheng stepped into the neighboring courtyard.

This courtyard has been abandoned for a long time.

This place originally belonged to the female cultivator who often wore plain clothes.

His divine sense spread out like a tide in an instant, and then quickly withdrew, leaving nothing behind.

Naturally, no one knows what happened to this woman afterward.

Shaking his head, Lin Changheng stood in the middle of the old street, looking at the scattered crowd, and suddenly felt as if he had been transported to another world.

Returning to this place now, everything has changed.

He closed his eyes briefly to suppress the turmoil in his heart.

"This place will be the last time I see it."

"From now on, we won't be going that way anymore..."

Before he could finish speaking, his figure suddenly blurred. Several children were chasing and playing on the street when one of them suddenly stopped, pointed to the sky, and exclaimed, "Look!"

Everyone looked up and saw a streak of azure light shooting into the sky, piercing the clouds like a sharp sword. The clouds above the market were torn open, and sunlight poured down like a waterfall, illuminating the entire market.

An old man cutting meat squinted his weathered eyes, and the meat-chopping knife he had gripped for decades clattered to the ground. He recognized the face: "This...this is Lin..."

The azure rainbow vanished in an instant, leaving only a lingering cloud trail. Some cultivators recognized it as the escape light of Foundation Establishment cultivators and turned deathly pale with fright.

Some people looked on with longing and envy.

Meanwhile, Lin Changheng was already high in the sky. The fierce wind whipped his robes around like flags. The landscape below resembled a chessboard, and the markets and past events that had once trapped him were now merely tiny black dots.

He took one last look at the land that bore witness to his darkest years, and a relieved smile appeared on his lips.

"Only by following the right path can one find true freedom."

Before he finished speaking, his figure had already transformed into a stream of light, stepped onto the Dharma boat, and disappeared into the heavens.

……

Within two hours, the Blackwater River appeared before them.

Lin Changheng arrived in his Dharma boat with a whoosh and stopped on this side of the river.

On the other side of the river, a faint light flickered, revealing a second-tier array that had been opened.

Just over a decade ago, this place was still a first-tier array.

He had no intention of recklessly venturing in.

The ferryman was taking a break on the boat when he suddenly heard the sound of a flying boat cutting through the air. He immediately rubbed his eyes and looked over.

"Fellow Daoist, do you not recognize me?"

Lin Changheng put away the magic boat, stepped forward, and smiled when he saw that it was an acquaintance.

"you are……"

The ferryman was only in his early forties, with mediocre cultivation but a good memory. He quickly widened his eyes and exclaimed, "Chief Lin? Alchemist Lin?"

"Not bad, it seems that Lin hasn't changed much."

Lin Changheng smiled immediately, "I wish to cross the river to return to my clan for a visit. I wonder if I should inform them of this?"

Having been away from the Xu family for many years, it was understandable and unavoidable for Lin Changheng to inform them of his departure. However, this would also mean the end of their familial ties.

"How could that be? The clan's higher-ups have already said that the Xu family will always be Chief Lin's home, and the Xu family's doors will always be wide open for Chief Lin!"

The ferryman immediately denied it, and said something that surprised Lin Changheng as well.

"Then I'll trouble you, fellow Daoist, to ferry me across the river."

Lin Changheng remained noncommittal and boarded the boat.

"Alright!" the ferryman replied with a smile, and steered the boat forward.

Lin Changheng looked around, seemingly admiring the river view, but unintentionally glanced back at a certain grove of trees on the bank, a dark and secluded place suitable for hiding people.

Then, as if unaware of anything amiss, she continued chatting with the ferryman with her expression unchanged.

Soon, they crossed the Blackwater River, and Lin Changheng strolled leisurely along the riverbank towards the heart of the Xu family's territory.

On the one hand, it's a good opportunity to revisit the old scene; on the other hand, it gives the ferryman time to notify the Xu family's higher-ups and allow them time to react.

As expected, after Lin Changheng walked away, the ferryman immediately threw out a communication jade talisman, which flew towards the Xu family's core Cangfeng Dojo with a "whoosh".

This person is both the ferryman and the gatekeeper, possessing the power to "reach the ears of Heaven."

……

Lin Changheng is extremely cautious in his actions. Now that Tantai Feiyue is living at Cangfeng Dojo, he cannot go there directly. So he first headed towards Guanxia Dojo, where he used to live, which is not a core secret place.

Soon, they arrived at their old courtyard.

"what?"

Lin Changheng sensed something was wrong and immediately extended his divine sense into the courtyard. Sure enough, no new people were living there anymore. The courtyard was clean and tidy, and the furnishings were exactly the same as when he lived there.

Even the mud pit dug for the black-armored tortoise on the inside of the courtyard is still preserved, and there is even water in it to keep it moist.

They actually preserved this courtyard for him?

Lin Changheng, who had not been informed of his future, smiled immediately, old memories flooding his mind. The Xu family was truly thoughtful.

Discussing deeds, one does not care about one’s heart, and no one is perfect when considering one’s heart.

Regardless of the Xu family's motives or how low the cost was, Lin Changheng still approved of their decade-long practice.

If the Xu family ever needs anything in the future, he might really have to lend a hand...

"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"

Before long, three whooshing sounds came from outside the courtyard.

A series of knocks followed.

"You three, please come in."

Lin Changheng had brewed tea on the stone table and divided it into four cups.

Then, smiling and turning her head, she saw a female cultivator in a palace dress push open the door and enter first. She had beautiful hair, fair skin, and a face full of joy and longing.

Who else could it be but Tantai Feiyue?

Behind him were a Foundation Establishment cultivator and an old man with completely white hair and beard.

It was Xu Xujun and... Xu Xuheng, the head of the Xu family.

Xu Xujun's appearance hasn't changed much, but his aura is slightly stronger. He has progressed quite far in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, and it is estimated that he has reached the third level of Foundation Establishment.

He was exuding a faint aura of Foundation Establishment power, no longer resembling someone who had just entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

Xu Xuheng, standing to the side, aged rapidly. Back when he was at the ninth level of Qi Refining, he still gave up his readily available opportunity to establish his foundation, along with a Foundation Establishment Pill and a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Item, to Xu Xujun, who had a better chance of establishing his foundation. In doing so, he missed out on his only chance to establish his foundation in this lifetime.

The family has reached the "foundation stage," but he has no more opportunities to reach it.

Without establishing a foundation, one will age very quickly after the age of sixty. Xu Xuheng is now over eighty years old, and his aged appearance is mostly due to external factors.

Leading a family with a shallow foundation and surrounded by wolves is not easy, and it has overtaxed his mental energy.

Although it sounds complicated, it's actually something you can only glance at. Lin Changheng stood up and nodded to the two of them, his gaze mainly fixed on the princess in front of him.

His smile was warm, and his gaze was gentle.

The two Xu family cultivators followed behind Tantai Feiyue and immediately returned the greeting with clasped hands. They also sensed the powerful aura that Lin Changheng was holding back, and he was indeed at the Foundation Establishment stage!
They exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with both understanding and surprise, and they couldn't help but gasp.

"hiss……"

A second-tier alchemist who has now reached the Foundation Establishment stage—his potential is terrifying!
Must make good friends!

Fortunately, when Lin Changheng left, they didn't break off relations abruptly; they parted amicably, preserving a sense of friendship...

A sense of relief welled up in both of their hearts...

……

"Brother Lin, how have you been?"

Tantai Feiyue pursed her red lips slightly, bit her lip gently, and murmured a word.

"Fei Yue."

Lin Changheng didn't have any reservations and smiled as he opened his arms wide.

The next moment, a fragrant breeze wafted in, and a long-lost delicate body, with a familiar yet distant warmth, nestled into his arms.

He was pulled tightly into a large arm.

At this moment, the two members of the Xu family had already tactfully left, and the gate had been closed.

I didn't bother you any further.

Tantai Feiyue buried her face in Lin Changheng's chest, her fingertips tightly gripping his clothes, her voice trembling slightly: "You're finally back..."

Lin Changheng lowered his head, his chin gently brushing against her soft hair, and chuckled softly, "What, missed me?"

The princess raised her head, her eyes slightly red. "I really miss you. I'm also afraid that I'll never see you again, and even more afraid... that you'll forget me."

Lin Changheng let out a soft breath, his fingertips brushing away the moisture from the corner of her eyes, his voice low and deep: "I can't forget."

"That's good."

After cuddling together for a long time, Lin Changheng got down to business, asking about Tantai Feiyue's preparations and condition.
"how?"

Lin Changheng was taken aback when he saw Tantai Feiyue looking at him with bright eyes but not offering any reply.

"Are you in such a hurry to get down to business?"

Tantai Feiyue smiled sweetly, her snow-white arms wrapping around Lin Changheng's nape, her delicate face pressed close to his, magnified in his pupils, her red lips pressed against his.

Lin Changheng isn't a block of wood; how could he not understand his meaning?

Over the past decade, he has aged steadily, but his vital essence remains abundant and his blood and energy are vigorous, making his physical condition even better than that of a young cultivator who is eighteen or nineteen years old.

Therefore, desires will inevitably arise.

He kept himself pure and didn't look at the Red Mansion Fairy much. However, when he had something difficult to relieve, he wouldn't force himself to suppress it, but would choose to use his internal energy to resolve it.

A balance between work and rest is the right way.

Now is the time for great relaxation!
"Well……"

Holding the warm, soft body in his arms with one hand, he strode into the house. At the same time, Lin Changheng flicked his sleeves, and array flags emerged from them, landing in various corners of the courtyard under the control of his divine sense.

"Bang!" The door slammed shut.

At the same time, with a "hum," a thin layer of pale cloud rose up outside, like a semi-circular light shield, enveloping the entire courtyard.

Second-tier low-grade formation, [Flowing Clouds Obscuring the Moon Formation]!
Inside the room, the flickering candlelight cast long shadows of the two people, which overlapped on the carved screen.

The wind rustles through the bamboo grove outside the window, its sound like whispers.

It has lasted for a long time.

……

Three hours later.

Scattered on the floor were loose skirts and belts. In the messy bed, Princess Tantai lay on Lin Changheng's chest, her eyes still flushed, fast asleep.

Lin Changheng kept his eyes closed, a satisfied smile still playing on his lips. His hand gently stroked her smooth back, but his magic power had already entered her body to investigate.

To examine the foundation of the building.

He quickly frowned.

(End of this chapter)