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

Chapter 205 New Talent, First Acquisition of a Talisman Treasure (5K chapters, including a bonus chapter for 1400 monthly votes)
Furthermore, the [Fire Control Technique] eventually transformed into the true meaning of the [Fire Control Divine Power], greatly enhancing the art of alchemy.

I wonder if this "water control" will eventually degenerate into demonic magic, or become a true supernatural power?
Lin Changheng had no way of knowing.

The more significant problem is that the Song Dynasty was not a water-rich region; although there were major rivers, they were not common.

There was no sea nearby.

Lin Changheng's talent for controlling water seems to be of little use at the moment.

It can only be included as an alternative.

……

As for the [Water Arrow] talent, Lin Changheng had the [Deep Lake Spirit Clam] test it. It was very strong. A charged attack would be something even a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator wouldn't dare to challenge. However, the problem was that the "charge" was easily detected, allowing for defense and evasion.

They might even strike while you're gathering your strength.

If given the chance to launch a surprise attack, it might have a surprising effect.

Lin Changheng believes this may not be very practical.

After all, apart from evenly matched battles, the outcome is usually decided very quickly, with no time to build up strength.

It's particularly useless.

Moreover, if you really want to use this method, you can release Xiaobai in advance and let it take the opportunity to launch a sneak attack, which may be even more effective.

……

As for [Spiritual Essence]...

Lin Changheng's first thought was that ordinary clams could nurture pearls, while demonic clams could nurture exotic treasures.

He later wondered why the Deep Lake Spirit Clam that came from the Sun family had such a significantly reduced lifespan and aged to such an extent, yet there were no obvious toxins or scars.

The Sun family, on the other hand, simply sold it off, seemingly knowing that this was irreversible; they sold off their second-tier spirit beast without hesitation.

Later, a guess was made that it was related to [Spiritual Essence].

The Sun family may have used this spirit clam as a container to nurture some kind of treasure, consuming or absorbing its life force to accelerate the treasure's growth.

Finally, they should succeed, and the "Deep Lake Spirit Clam," having been used up, should be discarded like worn-out shoes.

This led Lin Changheng to reasonably associate it with Core Formation cultivators.

It is said that Core Formation cultivators no longer use magic tools or spiritual artifacts, but rather magical treasures!

The magical artifact and the cultivator are one, sharing weal and woe. It can be stored and nurtured within the body, and the longer it is nurtured, the more it becomes as easy to use as an extension of one's own arm, and the stronger its power becomes.

Unlike magical artifacts and spiritual objects, which can only be stored in a storage bag.

Qi Refining and Foundation Establishment cultivators cannot absorb objects into their bodies.

……

However, there are fundamental differences in the nurturing process between spirit clams and Core Formation cultivators.

It is the nourishing substance for Core Formation cultivators, and is deeply bound to and related to them.

If a Core Formation cultivator dies, the power of the magic weapon will be greatly reduced.

But the spirit clam is different. The things it nurtures are not limited to magical treasures. They include many kinds, and anyone can take them and then refine them.

Although it's not as good as nurturing it yourself, it still saves a lot of time.

Many Foundation Establishment cultivators who are confident in forming their core, or those backed by high-level cultivators, will seek out rare spiritual materials in advance to create the embryos of their magical treasures.

And through various means, nurture it in advance.

After the core is formed, it takes some time to refine it, transforming it into its final form. Then it can inherit the previous nurturing power and gain powerful real-time combat strength.

At the same time, the embryo of the magic weapon itself is comparable to a powerful spiritual artifact, except that it has the potential to transform in the future!

And the aristocratic families also possess fake pills... so naturally they know this information.

Is the Sun family's reckless and wasteful use of second-tier spirit clams related to this?

Perhaps no one except the core members of the Sun family knows this.

……

Lin Changheng was torn between the three talents.

In the end, a decision was made.

Choose [Spiritual Essence].

This means that Lin Changheng possessed the ability to absorb and nurture objects into his body ahead of time.

Although there are no magical artifact embryos for him to nurture right now, there are still other options.

For example, last time at the Xu family, Tantai Feiyue told him about a special talisman that could be nurtured by constantly absorbing and releasing magical power, and could unleash power many times over.

If this talisman is incorporated into the body and nurtured at all times, its power will surely be even greater!
It can be used to enhance and protect the path.

However, Tantai Feiyue, a second-tier low-grade talisman master, could not refine it. But in the Immortal City, there are second-tier mid-grade talisman masters and second-tier high-grade talisman masters.

Perhaps someone knows how to refine it.

As long as the other party is not alone, Lin Changheng is confident that he can win them over!

This is where the alchemist's confidence comes from.

As for the [Water Control] talent he listed as an alternative, he will postpone it for now. In the future, when he goes to a country with great rivers and lakes, where water-type monsters are everywhere, why should he worry about not being able to find a monster that can provide the [Water Control] talent?

With a firm thought, Lin Changheng immediately activated the treasure seed representing [Spiritual Essence] with his mind. Instantly, the other two treasure seeds shrank, and a hazy aura and Daoist charm were introduced into them.

Suddenly, the light intensified, a blue mist rising, and like a shooting star, it entered Lin Changheng's soul.

He felt a slight chill in his soul, like drinking ice on a summer's day.

"Om-"

The icy touch was not fleeting, but rather like a drop of ink falling into still water, quickly spreading throughout his soul.

Countless mysteries flowed out from the blue mist, but were directly imprinted into the deepest part of the body.

In an instant, Lin Changheng's understanding of the word "nurturing" underwent a dramatic change. This was not a simple indoctrination of knowledge, but an instinctive awakening.

In the past, he thought that nurturing was nothing more than warming with spiritual power and communicating with the soul.

But at this moment, he understood a deeper meaning—it was a kind of breathing, a deep and slow rhythm of energy exchange shared with all things, creating resonance, just as blood nourishes cells, and also establishing a profound connection.

[Already mastered: Spiritual Essence Technique - Path to Enlightenment]

At this moment, a ball of azure light appeared inside Lin Changheng's body.

Like smoke or mist, it has no form and cannot be touched, yet it truly exists.

He subconsciously raised his hand, and a wisp of azure light naturally swirled around his fingertips.

This means that it can be absorbed into the body for nourishment, or... projected outwards.

But he had a feeling that he could only nurture one item at a time, and that the efficiency was limited.

This is a limitation of the abilities of a certain type of treasure.

Like other precious treasures, it will continuously improve and transform as the process of acquiring spiritual power progresses.

[Effect: Nurturing one rare item at a time initially increases its corresponding power]

"A precious talisman! The embryo of a magical artifact!"

Lin Changheng's eyes lit up; he had a new goal.

If the previous treasures were all about personal enhancement, this time they are about improving the tools and techniques!
Next, he tried other objects, such as alchemy furnaces and magical flying swords, but none of them worked.

We've also tentatively determined that only special materials and artifacts with inherent growth potential can be used; we can give it a try once we have the treasure talisman.

Unfortunately, the Crimson Sky Profound Flame was also excluded. Water and fire clashed directly, so Lin Changheng dared not try again.

……

The next day.

Outside the No. 98 cave dwelling in the outer lake, another messenger in white robes came and invited Lin Changheng to meet him in the lake.

The intention was to guide the way.

Lin Changheng did not have a special "array flag" token and could not trespass.

They immediately set sail in their magic boat and sped into the lake, arriving at the location of the Water Moon Pavilion.

"Master Lin, please come in."

As soon as she landed on the water platform, a clear and melodious female cultivator's voice rang out.

"I have met Master Bai."

Lin Changheng stepped in and greeted them with a bow.

Her exquisitely beautiful face remained unchanged, her eyebrows like distant mountains, her eyes like cold pools, like a fairy in a painting. At this moment, however, a trace of contemplation was revealed, but upon seeing Lin Changheng, she quickly concealed it and replaced it with a faint smile.

After exchanging pleasantries, the host and guest took their seats, and a maidservant served the "Azure Floating Buds" spiritual tea that they had drunk before.

Bai Zhenchuan gave him some last time, and he drank it all in the first year.

This is equivalent to tasting it again after two years, and it still feels amazing.

"I wonder if Master Bai has summoned me here so urgently because of something important?"

Lin Changheng asked directly.

"There is indeed something I need Lin Dan's help with."

Bai Hengwan didn't hesitate and nodded directly. She pinched a jade slip in mid-air with her jade fingers and then flicked it over. "Master Lin will know at a glance." Lin Changheng looked at Bai Zhenchuan's calm and pretty face, feeling puzzled. He reached out and caught the jade slip, and his divine sense directly entered it.

Before long, his brows furrowed slightly.

After withdrawing his divine sense, he looked up and asked in a puzzled voice, "Why is this another prescription that requires changing the medicinal ingredients?"

"...It seems to be the formula for the [Spirit Communication Pill]?"

However, this one is more complete than the previously extracted fragments, only lacking the refining part.

Bai Hengwan nodded with a smile, "That's right, it's the formula for the [Spirit Communication Pill]."

"If you wish to ask Master Lin to make one or two more substitutions, you would need to select the medicinal herbs to ensure their medicinal properties are compatible."

Bai Hengwan revealed her purpose.

Seeing that Lin Changheng continued to express his doubts, Bai Hengwan immediately gave a brief explanation of what had happened.

It turns out that after Lin Changheng gave his answer last time, the other two invited alchemists also gave their results one after another within a year.

After the materials were collected, several other senior second-tier alchemists under the Immortal City command adjusted the alchemy formula, which took quite some time.

After that came the trial phase.

Three batches were fried in a row.

After recording the problems and making adjustments, only when all else failed did they hand them over to Master Kong for judgment.

And the furnace was opened three months ago.

And then... the oven exploded again.

Afterwards, Master Kong conducted an in-depth analysis, identified the problem, and then issued another order requiring an adjustment plan.

Because Elder Kong was in seclusion at a crucial moment in his breakthrough to the third tier of alchemy, he didn't have time to personally handle the task, which Qinglan Sanren tacitly approved. The task was then handed over to a second-tier alchemist in the Immortal City, but two months passed without any progress.

However, with the deadline set by Qinglan Sanren fast approaching, he had no choice but to report to Elder Kong again.

Master Kong also found it troublesome. While frowning and thinking, he suddenly had a flash of inspiration and thought of someone, so he gave advice.

"Find Master Lin Dan."

The message was immediately relayed through various levels of government, and discussions were held among the relevant parties, which led to the scene just now.

"Elder Kong, you have overestimated me. This is not as complicated as before... I'm afraid I am not up to the task."

Lin Changheng shook his head with a wry smile.

He wasn't deliberately refusing; he genuinely didn't want to take on the task.

Because he didn't arrogantly believe that all the alchemists in the Immortal City were incompetent fools and that he could definitely succeed with his own efforts. Most likely, the medicinal properties involved were complex and extremely difficult to achieve, which is why it had been delayed until now.

Besides, he couldn't get anything that would attract him.

"Master Lin, this matter is of great importance to me. If it succeeds, it will greatly enhance my ability to compete for resources. Therefore, I implore you to lend me your assistance."

"I thank you in advance."

Bai Hengwan spoke up, rising to her feet and bowing earnestly as she made her request.

Lin Changheng remained silent, seemingly deep in thought.

In an instant, the entire lakeside pavilion became so quiet you could hear a pin drop, with only the constant, clear sound of the waves crashing against the shore.

"Can't the other two alchemists do it? They were able to find replacement herbs last time too."

Lin Changheng suddenly spoke up with a suggestion.

"If I hadn't succeeded in inviting Master Lin to help this time, it would naturally have fallen to one of the other two alchemists. However, this good opportunity 'personally selected' by Elder Kong would not have fallen to me; it would have been handed over to my senior brothers and sisters..."

Bai Hengwan revealed part of the truth.

"I see."

Lin Changheng still did not express his opinion.

Just like when Lin Changheng asked for the essence blood of the Azure Mist Toad last time, Bai Hengwan will have to use her persuasive skills again this time.

The woman was aware of this as well, and in this urgent situation, she decided to act quickly and directly quoted a price: "I wonder how Master Lin's need for the essence blood of the Azure Mist Toad has changed in the past three years? Does it still exist?"

"Ok?"

Lin Changheng nodded naturally: "I do need the essence blood of the Azure Mist Toad, and the more the better."

"But isn't this blood used for Bai Zhen's body refinement? How could I, Lin, possibly steal it away?"

As he spoke, Lin Changheng deliberately revealed a hint of embarrassment on his face.

"If Master Lin needs it, I am not unwilling to give it up. After all, there are so many body-refining medicinal herbs in the world, I am not worried about not being able to find a substitute."

Bai Hengwan looked at Lin Changheng with her beautiful eyes and spoke with her red lips slightly pursed.

"In that case, I do have some ability to overcome the difficulties."

Lin Changheng nodded, then asked with a sudden thought, "I wonder if the reward from Immortal City last time will continue this time?"

Since we're going to accept it, we naturally have to fight for more benefits.

"No."

Bai Hengwan's beautiful eyes widened slightly as she was caught off guard by Lin Changheng's question. Seeing the disappointment in his eyes, she felt a bit awkward.

Paying someone enough for a favor isn't a problem, but this time the Immortal City really didn't promise any funding. She does have a lot of resources, but they're all things she urgently needs...

After Lin Changheng made his initial attempt and realized there was no reward, he simply gave up, saying, "It's fine if there isn't any. I, Lin, can't possibly let Bai Zhenchuan pay out of his own pocket, can I?"

As he spoke, a righteous smile appeared on his face.

Bai Hengwan immediately felt that Master Lin was not so unapproachable anymore, and had become more pleasing to the eye.

Just as she was about to express her gratitude, a thought suddenly occurred to her: "This humble woman does indeed possess something that might be of use to Alchemist Lin, but I wonder if Alchemist Lin would find it useful..."

"Oh?"

Lin Changheng immediately became interested. After all, even a starved camel is bigger than a horse, and the things that had flowed out from the hands of the Immortal City's true disciples might actually be useful to him. "Of course not, I am only grateful."

Then, the woman reached into her storage pouch at her waist and immediately took out a long, narrow yellow talisman, which she held in her jade-like hand.

"This is……"

Lin Changheng's eyes couldn't see clearly, so he immediately used his divine sense to scan it and discovered that this talisman was not one of the common first- or second-order talismans.

There were no familiar runes, and the thickness was several times greater.

In the center of this talisman, there is only a small sword engraved on it, lifelike, and one can even sense the hidden heavy power. If one touches it with one's divine sense, one will immediately feel a faint, pricking sensation.

"hiss!"

Lin Changheng immediately gasped. Just because he had never eaten pork or seen a pig run did not mean that he had never heard of the name and characteristics of pigs in ancient books or in his daily life!
The answer is obvious: "This is a [talisman]?"

"Indeed, this is a [Talisman Treasure]."

Seeing the change in Lin Changheng's expression, which was no longer as nonchalant as before, the woman felt satisfied and replied, "I remember that Master Lin previously said that his combat skills were lacking, which is why he concealed his information so cautiously?"

"It just so happens that I have this unused [talisman treasure] in my possession. Why not give it to Master Lin? It might come in handy in a critical moment. It would be a wonderful thing."

"However, this [talisman]'s power is almost depleted; it can probably only be used once. I wonder if Alchemist Lin would be interested?"

Bai Hengwan continued speaking, clearly explaining the pros and cons.

"Thank you for your guidance, Master Bai. I do need it, so why would I look down on it?"

Lin Changheng nodded solemnly and bowed in thanks.

Nodding, Bai Hengwan gently sent the [talisman] over using her magic, which Lin Changheng carefully accepted.

Looking down curiously, I immediately fell in love with it.

It should be understood that a [talisman treasure] is a special talisman formed by a cultivator at the Core Formation stage or above using a special method to extract one to two tenths of the power of a magic weapon and seal it onto a talisman.

It can be used by cultivators in the Qi Refining stage and the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, such forced interception will cause irreversible damage to the magic weapon. Under normal circumstances, even if the magic weapon is taken back into the body and nurtured, it is difficult to restore it.

Therefore, it is mostly made by cultivators who are about to die, and given to their beloved descendants or disciples for personal use.

Once activated, it poses a threat even to those in the late stages of Foundation Establishment!
It's a natural life-saving wonder!

While it was in Bai Hengwan's hands, Lin Changheng couldn't perceive it closely. Now that he had it in his hands, he realized that this [talisman treasure] was indeed elusive and dim, as if it might be annihilated or dissipate at any moment.

"One use is enough!"

Having grown accustomed to a life of poverty, Lin Changheng didn't hesitate and happily accepted the money.

Then, looking at Bai Hengwan, he said in a deep voice, "I will entrust this matter to Lin. I will do my utmost and spare no effort, but as for the specific outcome..."

"Just do your best; don't expect a perfect result."

Bai Hengwan smiled. If the other party had patted their chest and said it would be 100% successful, she wouldn't have believed it.

“I understand. If I cannot complete the mission, I will not be able to ask for the essence blood I just mentioned.”

"He who takes a bribe is bound to be obligated to do so," Lin Changheng was essentially making a solemn promise.

"Very well, I will await Master Lin's good news."

The two chatted for a while longer, and their relationship improved considerably due to their shared interests, and they even laughed and talked a lot.

Finally, when both parties were satisfied, Lin Changheng took his leave and rode away in his escape light.

……

(End of this chapter)