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

Chapter 189 The True Inheritance of the Immortal City, A Bountiful Harvest (5K words, including a bonus chapter for 600 monthly votes)
In fact, after refining a high-quality pill, one can try to explore the path of mid-grade second-tier pill refining.

With sufficient comprehension, one can advance to become a mid-grade second-tier alchemist.

However, this also leaves a problem: there will be loopholes in the knowledge, concepts, and techniques of alchemy, which will affect the success rate of subsequent alchemy.

It's like building a nine-story tower. Even if the foundation of the sandy soil at the bottom isn't solid, you can still build on top, but there will inevitably be hidden dangers.

It affects subsequent growth and even potential.

The higher you go, the more difficult and blocked it becomes, like being stuck in a quagmire.

With sufficient comprehension, Lin Changheng was confident in his future path of alchemy. With a long lifespan as his foundation, he naturally took each step steadily and firmly forward.

So he is very satisfied with the current progress.

……

After finishing, he would go to his precious herb garden to check on things and also complete today's task of ripening and stimulating birth.

Now his herb garden has been reclaimed and expanded, with the addition of second-tier spiritual soil.

There are as many as six rows.

Various medicinal herbs and precious plants grow vigorously, each with a different shape and a variety of medicinal fragrances.

After a quick count, it became clear that there were already twenty-five medicinal herbs inside.

There are eight more plants than four years ago.

The Nine-Leaf Purple Ganoderma has grown a fourth batch, which is also the third batch in Lin Changheng's hands!

The third leaf has already taken shape, and the fourth leaf has grown more than halfway.

They are growing extremely well!

How could anyone else dare to imagine this? It is an important treasure plant in the cultivation world, a key ingredient for cultivation, and it is extremely rare.
In Lin Changheng's herb garden, however, they grow like chives, one crop after another, one crop after another.

Inexhaustible.

Once it matures, it means you've obtained a Foundation Establishment Pill, and most likely it's not a genuine Foundation Establishment Pill, but a premium one!
Its value is higher, and more people flock to it.

Moreover, the refining process of Foundation Establishment Pills is different from that of ordinary second-grade low-quality pills. Lin Changheng estimated that he could refine about two high-quality pills, but he wasn't even fully confident, maybe around 80-90%.

However, if the third Foundation Establishment Pill is sacrificed, the chances of getting the first two high-quality pills will be completely wiped out.

However, doing so would be seen as damaging his own reputation, so Lin Changheng naturally wouldn't do it.

……

The main ingredient of the "Youthful Appearance Pill," the "Crimson Beauty Herb," ​​which has been planted for ten years, has also undergone a delightful change. Its main stem has finally grown to two feet long, and not only have lush leaves grown on the stem, but flower buds hidden among the leaves can also be faintly seen.

This means that the growth of [Zhu Yan Guo Cao] has entered the second stage.

The third stage is from flowering to fruiting, at which point the fruit can be used as medicine.

Beside this precious plant, a new medicinal herb has appeared.

It was about half a foot tall, of average length, and unremarkable, but Lin Changheng knew it was an auxiliary ingredient in the [Youth Preservation Pill], called [Fire Poria].

It was obtained three years ago, and now it has been nine years.

These three precious plants receive Lin Changheng's accelerated ripening and growth every day.

The other spiritual plants were divided into three waves, which took turns receiving them.

The growth rate has slowed down considerably, but it is still encouraging.

The earliest medicinal rhizome of [Di Mai Huang Jing] that I obtained back then was already thirty-eight years old!

The eleven second-tier spiritual plants acquired in the second and third batches have gradually reached their twenties in age.

The four plants in the fourth batch are thirteen years old.

The fifth batch of six plants were approximately eight years old.

Lin Changheng also decided that he would no longer cultivate ordinary second-tier spiritual herbs on his own. Otherwise, if he continued to increase the number of herbs, the amount of mana required to accelerate their growth would be too much, and the progress of the spiritual herbs would be greatly slowed down.

Let's focus on growing these spiritual plants to a hundred years old first. Once they undergo a transformation, they will not only be more valuable, but we can also use them even after we reach the Core Formation stage.

……

Several months have passed in the blink of an eye.

The grand auction in the Immortal City has arrived again, which is also a major event in the surrounding area. Many cultivators from far away have also rushed over.

Lin Changheng also received an invitation and a complimentary seat from the Immortal City Auction, which was expected.

Given his current reputation in the Immortal City, it would be strange if he hadn't received it.

Moreover, it's located in a prime location within the Tianzi Pavilion.

"Thank you very much."

Lin Changheng did not refuse and accepted it with a smile.

"Not at all, this position was personally assigned by 'Master Bai'."

Manager Xie, who had come to run the errand, waved his hand repeatedly and smiled.

"Bai Zhenchuan?"

Lin Changheng was taken aback for a moment, then nodded, "I understand."

After Manager Xie took his leave, Lin Changheng seemed to be deep in thought.

After hearing the news at the Spirit Wine House last time, he also deliberately collected some information about the core of the Immortal City.

These are not secrets.

It's not hard for someone who's paying attention to know.

"Bai Zhenchuan," whose real name is Bai Hengwan, is one of the most valued disciples of "Qinglan Sanren."

He was at the early stage of Foundation Establishment, just over thirty years old, and possessed a unique wind-type spiritual root.

It is said that Lingyun has also broken through the seventy-point mark.

It is at the level of Earth Spirit Root.

It should be known that everyone in the cultivation world has five elemental roots, and the grade is determined by the spiritual charm contained in the best elemental root.

Even mortals possess the five elements of spiritual roots, but their spiritual essence is limited to only one, making it impossible for them to sense spiritual energy and thus hinder their cultivation.

In addition, the five elements of metal, wood, water, fire, and earth are not immutable.

Sometimes mutations can occur.

Specifically, it refers to two or more spiritual roots being intertwined.

Breaking with convention, a new spiritual root was formed.

In the cultivation world, this kind of cultivation is called a "different spiritual root".

It mainly includes four elements: wind, thunder, ice, and darkness.

According to the permutations and combinations, there are far more than four types of entangled spiritual roots, but why is there no summary?
This is because entanglement with other spiritual roots will damage one's own spiritual root. Either one will be unable to sense spiritual energy and become a "dull spiritual root," living as a mortal for life; or one's spiritual roots will conflict and leak out, unable to bear spiritual essence, thus becoming a "dead spiritual root."

These conditions preclude cultivation, therefore they are removed from the list of heterogeneous spiritual roots.

……

Extraordinary spirits are far stronger than normal five-elemental spiritual roots. This "Bai Hengwan" is at the level of earth spiritual root, so naturally she is even more favored by "Qinglan Sanren".

As long as she cultivates step by step, and "Qinglan Sanren" provides the necessary resources, this woman can cultivate smoothly all the way to the Core Formation stage.

Her only concern was whether she could obtain the most advanced "Golden Elixir".

Many cultivators were even secretly speculating whether this woman would become the successor of the Floating Life Immortal City.

Why would someone like that take the initiative to be friendly to me?
Lin Changheng looked puzzled.

After thinking for a moment without figuring it out, I used the process of elimination and instantly found my focus:
Daoist alchemy.

Lin Changheng only revealed his alchemy skills to outsiders; his Foundation Establishment cultivation was unknown to most people except for a handful.

Could it be that "Bai Hengwan" has something to ask of me regarding her alchemy skills?
But she has already established her foundation, and what is it that a city lord, a late-stage Core Formation cultivator like "Qinglan Sanren," cannot obtain?
Therefore, she must have a private matter to ask of her.

Another possibility is that she was not making a friendly gesture on her own initiative, but rather it was her sect's idea, and she was merely the person in charge and the one carrying it out.

"forget about it."

If the other party truly has some intention, there will definitely be follow-up actions.

If she harbors any ill intentions or schemes behind her back... then she's only at the early stage of Foundation Establishment!

……

The auction lasted for three days.

It is evident that a large number of items were auctioned, and all of them were items of considerable value.

For ordinary people, a long meditation session is agonizing, but for cultivators who meditate for days on end, it is within their tolerance.

Lin Changheng brought Yan Mingyi along early in the morning to join in the fun.

The “Tianzi Pavilion” also varies in size, and can be used by one or two people, or by a large family.

Its location and layout are extremely superior, overlooking the entire venue, and it is luxurious and comfortable, with spiritual wine and fruits provided, far surpassing the Earth Pavilion.

Lin Changheng enjoyed himself immensely. He received a shoulder and back massage and was occasionally given spiritual fruits. He was well taken care of and felt extremely comfortable.

The auction opened quickly, and the day passed by in a flurry of heated competition.

During this process, Lin Changheng intervened twice, and once on behalf of Yan Mingyi.

I got them all.

The first item is two pieces of second-grade high-quality spirit wood.

It is called "East Wheel Willow".

It was brought out shortly after the auction, presumably to warm up the crowd.

It is a rare wood used for cultivating wood-based techniques, refining wood-based spiritual weapons, and making talismans.

Immediately, many people started bidding against each other.

Lin Changheng was also interested in this item because it could be used in his "Evergreen Body" body refinement technique, and it was effective for the sixth level, which is the late stage of the second tier.

For mid-stage second-tier body refinement, it needs to be diluted according to a specific method before use. The material recorded in "Methods to Assist Body Refinement" is not a cost-effective spirit wood used as a later replacement, but rather the original material used in the initial stages of the cultivation method.

It's considered an authentic copy.

Lin Changheng naturally wouldn't let this opportunity pass him by, and immediately raised the price significantly, demonstrating his wealth and determination to win.

After two attempts, he scared off all his competitors.

It was acquired for a little over three thousand low-grade spirit stones.

……

The second item is a [Daoist Alchemy Inheritance], a mid-grade second-tier item.

Another descendant of a fallen alchemy family has put this up for auction. It's unclear whether it's genuine or not; there's a possibility that they killed someone to steal the treasure, hence the name.

After a fierce bidding war, three or four family cultivators were unwilling to give in and competed to offer their bids, but none of them could beat Lin Changheng.

It cost 4,500 low-grade spirit stones to bid on it.

Lin Changheng's alchemy skills have now reached the pinnacle of the second-tier low-grade alchemy, and he can refine three high-quality pills.

If one wants to refine one more high-quality pill, bringing the total to four, it would require more advanced alchemy theories and techniques, which are beyond the reach of second-tier low-grade alchemy practitioners.

Currently, he only possesses a copy of the "Second-Tier Mid-Grade Alchemy Manual," which was the "Five Elements Returning to Origin Alchemy Scripture" he initially obtained. If he had multiple alchemy manuals explaining the subject from different perspectives and serving as references, his progress would be even faster.

Once you advance in rank, you can easily earn back those spirit stones.

It is said that to do a good job, one must first have the right tools. These alchemical texts are the tools to unlock this potential!
Lin Changheng originally wanted to bid for the [Second-Tier High-Grade Pill Dao], but it did not appear.

A family that can produce a second-tier high-grade alchemist has a very strong foundation, and frankly, it's not so easy for them to decline.

……

The third item was purchased for Yan Mingyi.

It is a notebook recording my insights into the [First-Tier High-Grade Puppet Technique].

Noticing that Yan Mingyi was somewhat tempted, Lin Changheng casually spent several hundred spirit stones to bid for it and gifted it to the woman.

The result delighted her.

Lin Changheng hadn't expected that this woman, who had inherited her grandfather's fortune and whose storage bag contained a considerable amount of spirit stones, would be so happy over such a small gift...

……

The auction proceeded as scheduled on the second day.

Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi also arrived.

This time, however, there was no gain.

The real grand finale will be on the third day.

Yan Mingyi did not arrive with everyone, but instead cultivated puppetry in her cave. She knew that the items up for auction today would be valuable, and her cultivation level was insufficient to use them; it would be pointless for her to even look at them.

Upon hearing this, Lin Changheng glanced at Yan Mingyi in surprise. He hadn't expected this woman to be so unambitious and clear-headed. He greatly admired her for this.

Back then, he attended several auctions that offered Foundation Establishment Pills or Foundation Establishment Spiritual Items. The cultivators were reluctant to leave until the very end, but he had no intention of looking any further. Once he achieved his goal, he left on his own.

The size of the bowl and the amount of rice consumed are very important.

But it wasn't long before his eyes lit up.

The maid at the auction stage was holding a tray with two spirit fruits on it.

It's about the size of a fist, with red and white stripes on it, especially the red dots that look like splattered bloodstains.

It was clearly the [Dragon Blood Fruit], to be auctioned separately.

Because they encountered another powerful competitor who was also wealthy and had a need for the same product, the two tested each other out and then tacitly agreed to each take one.

It cost more than three thousand spirit stones.

Next, I came across two auxiliary ingredients for the "Youth Preservation Pill," both of which were dried up and had no roots, so I took them as well.

After that, Lin Changheng did not make a move until the Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object and Foundation Establishment Pill took turns to ignite the final frenzied competition.

This time, the [Foundation Building Spiritual Item] was priced at over ten thousand.

The Foundation Establishment Pill also broke through the 27,000 spirit stones mark.

The competition was so intense that they almost fought tooth and nail.

Lin Changheng, sitting in the Tianzi Pavilion, watched this scene with his chin in his hand, pondering whether he should raise the price of his own refining furnace by three points.

But this was not the final item to be auctioned...

The final item was actually related to Core Formation!
"Shh!"

Lin Changheng, who had been lounging against the back of his chair, immediately sat up straight, staring intently at what was below.

Accompanied by a monk, a maidservant carried a tray covered with red silk onto the stage and presented it to the monks.

This cultivator's aura was incredibly powerful, and he didn't hide it at all; he just released it openly, shocking everyone present.

It turned out to be a fake Core Formation cultivator.

He stood there quietly, and to the Foundation Establishment, Early Foundation Establishment, and Qi Refining cultivators present, he was like a giant mountain, suppressing them!

"So powerful! Although the False Core is only the worst of the three Core Formation stages and there's no future progress to speak of, it's still a leap in level and a suppression of that level, something that Foundation Establishment cultivators can hardly match!"

Lin Changheng glanced at it once and then stopped looking at it for long or directly, afraid of being noticed. He only kept an eye on it out of the corner of his eye.

There were quite a few cultivators in the same state as Lin Changheng, and they all became interested in the final item.

At this moment, the red silk was lifted.

A green lotus seed was revealed.

They look no different from lotus seeds peeled from a regular lotus pod, except they are much larger.

At the same time, the female cultivator in charge announced: "This [Azure Lotus] is a key auxiliary ingredient in refining the [Return to Truth Pill], which can increase the chances of forming a core."

"If you do not wish to refine it into an elixir, taking it alone can also slightly enhance the process of forming a core."

"The starting price is 10,000 low-grade spirit stones, and each bid must be at least 100 low-grade spirit stones. Alright, let's begin the auction."

Lin Changheng originally intended to give it a try, but he soon discovered that although he was quite wealthy in the early stage of Foundation Establishment, he was no match for cultivators in the middle or even late stages of Foundation Establishment.

The starting bid of 10,000 low-grade spirit stones already exceeded the price of a Foundation Establishment Spirit Item, leaving the Qi Refining cultivators present feeling breathless.

This is a difference in levels.

For cultivators in the mid-to-late stages of Foundation Establishment, with their strength and earning power, obtaining one hundred mid-grade spirit stones is not that difficult.

The initial stage of foundation building is a transitional period, and the effects are not very noticeable.

Soon, offers began to come in droves.

"Ten thousand five hundred!"

"Eleven thousand spirit stones!"

"I'll offer 11,300!"

……

Lin Changheng then realized that there were quite a few Foundation Establishment cultivators in the mid-to-late stages present, and a deep voice, wrapped in magical power, came from a Heavenly Room, which was about the same size as the Pseudo-Core cultivator standing below.

He's also a fake Core Formation cultivator!

The two pseudo-core cultivators even exchanged a glance and nodded slightly, as if they knew each other.

The price quotes are soaring past 20,000 and heading towards 30,000, with no sign of stopping.

Lin Changheng lost all desire to make an offer.

His vast wealth seemed to be stretched thin and insufficient at this moment.

"That's all."

Lin Changheng was too lazy to watch any longer and left directly. As he was leaving, a yellow-robed cultivator was already waiting outside the door. Upon seeing Lin Changheng, the cultivator bowed respectfully.

"You waited for me all this way?"

Lin Changheng's expression was indifferent, and he glanced coldly at the yellow-robed cultivator before speaking stiffly.

If this had happened before, he would have assumed someone was after him.

His strength is now vastly different from before; he can even exchange a few blows with a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator without feeling fear or apprehension.

Under Lin Changheng's gaze, an immense pressure fell upon the yellow-robed cultivator, and somehow sweat began to bead on his forehead and his back was soaked through.

But this Alchemist Lin is clearly only at the peak of Qi Refining...

Finally, he managed to utter a strained "Yes."

"Who sent you?"

Lin Changheng asked directly.

"In response to Master Lin, it is Bai Zhen's teaching."

The yellow-robed cultivator bent even lower, making the person in front of him seem less like a cultivator and more like a savage beast! He could tear him apart at any moment if he wanted to!
"But you can tell me why?"

Lin Changheng had vaguely suspected this before, and now that it was confirmed, he still asked.

"No, Master Lin knew as soon as he saw Master Bai..."

The yellow-robed cultivator gritted his teeth and endured it, daring not to hide anything and revealing everything.

"Haha, then please lead the way, fellow Daoist."

Lin Changheng suddenly smiled, like winter snow seeing the sun, his expression completely different, even extremely kind, and asked him to lead the way.

"Yes, yes! This way, Master Lin."

The yellow-robed cultivator was bewildered, having no idea what had happened, given the stark contrast.

But he still hurriedly led the way, not daring to delay.

This person's temperament is so unpredictable, it's terrifying...

(End of this chapter)