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

Chapter 237 Mid-grade spiritual weapon, Core Formation auxiliary medicine

"Clap!"

The green-robed monk's head, still bearing the expression of shock and disbelief on his face, fell to the ground, rolled a few times, and became covered in dust.

Lin Changheng's figure was fully revealed. The [Flowing Light Sword] flew back, and with a flick of his finger, the bloodstains were shaken off. He then put it away with a backhand.

The out-of-control black ink pad quickly shrank back to its original size and fell to the ground with a thud.

Without even glancing at the two corpses, he first reached out and grabbed the shrunken, restored black inkstone and the green-robed cultivator's storage bag. Only then did his gaze fall on the storage bag left behind by the Qiu family patriarch and the damaged bronze bowl.

The mantis catches the cicada, and the oriole is behind.

This oriole, however, only needs a fleeting opening to strike and it has already decided the fate of the world.

Besides seizing the perfect opportunity, Lin Changheng only did two things.

Firstly, he used the [Illusory Art of Clarity], which he had obtained by seizing the essence of the [Azure Mist Toad] at the Xuanling level, and directly cast it with the help of the local vegetation to obscure his mind with illusions.

Moreover, its use is limited to certain locations, and can only be performed with the help of water vapor and wood vapor. This place is a green forest with abundant vegetation, which is just right for its use.

Its current power, once unleashed, is such that even a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator cannot avoid it.

In addition, Lin Changheng also discovered that as the bloodline level and concentration of the spirit-stealing monsters increased, the power of the acquired supernatural techniques also became significantly stronger.

This is a reasonable phenomenon.

Secondly, he can unleash the [Flowing Light Sword] to kill enemies. Its destructive power is average, but its most important attribute is its speed, comparable to a flash of light!

They can seize fleeting opportunities, follow up with attacks, and deliver a fatal blow! Other powerful techniques are slower and may miss, with a chance of being dodged.

Lin Changheng made a quick assessment and acted decisively, achieving the greatest result.

With a slight smile and a wave of his hand, he took back the "bequest" from the Qiu family patriarch as usual.

This person is dead. Although he was killed by the green-robed cultivator, he was indirectly killed by him, and Bai Fengxian's revenge can be considered complete.

Two sparks flew out and landed on the two piles of corpses, instantly engulfing them in flames and reducing them to ashes.

Lin Changheng had already disappeared without a trace, only a handful of white ash wrapped around his body.

It's as if it never existed.

……

Three days later.

Lin Changheng flew without stopping and had long since left the secret realm.

He spread his divine sense outwards and, seeing no tail, descended into a dense forest, dug a cave, and hid inside.

They began to count and process the harvest.

Since we don't know where this green-robed cultivator comes from, what his background is, or whether there are any markings in his storage bag, we need to deal with him first to feel more at ease.

The green-robed cultivator took out his storage bag. Because it had no owner, the mark was weak and easily dispersed with a burst of magical power.

"There's nothing of value in this person's storage bag..."

Disappointment flashed in Lin Changheng's eyes. This person was clearly like him, not having entered the secret realm, but simply waiting outside.

However, his goal was to acquire the company, while the other party was specifically looking for easy targets to ambush and kill.

For reasons unknown, they actually set their sights on the Qiu family patriarch...

Aside from items and techniques used in combat, the rest should be stored separately in the storage bag.

After all, you have to travel light when you rob someone; you can't bring your entire fortune with you, can you?

Furthermore, the person the other party chose is someone they can easily control and who can be easily defeated, suggesting that they are a cautious and shrewd individual.

It just happened to fall into his hands...

……

After a quick inspection, anything suspicious, worthless, or belonging to the other party was burned.

In addition, the elixirs, artifacts, talismans, spirit stones, etc., are worth about three or four thousand spirit stones.

Of course, the most important and precious thing is that black inkpad.

A mid-grade spiritual weapon, with considerable power, should sell for at least 20,000 low-grade spirit stones.

Even with a discount on resale value, you can still get 13,000 to 14,000 yuan.

This is the real issue.

However, Lin Changheng would never sell it, since he didn't have any mid-grade spiritual artifacts with him and could keep it for the time being.

This was not the time for in-depth refinement, so Lin Changheng merely played with it for a while before putting it away on the spot.

Then he looked at the storage bag of the Qiu family patriarch.

When his divine sense initially swept over, Lin Changheng's expression remained calm and indifferent.

After all, a cultivator in the early stages of Foundation Establishment has limited resources and wealth, so Lin Changheng didn't think much of him.

Even within the secret realm, those at the bottom of the power level have a low chance of obtaining good items.

But what needs to be seen should still be seen.

The result was quick...

His gaze suddenly sharpened.

"This is?"

Lin Changheng rummaged through a pile of miscellaneous items and found two jade boxes.

It was hidden very carefully, as if it were something to be cherished.

These two jade boxes were completely different from the other spirit stones and materials casually placed in the storage bag. They were carefully sealed with talismans and hidden deep inside an inconspicuous old robe, clearly highly valued by the Qiu family patriarch.

This careful collection immediately piqued Lin Changheng's curiosity.

But this is nothing but self-deception. By the time others can peek into his storage bag, he will surely be dead, and no amount of hiding will be of any use.

If he is alive and well, no one can pry into his life.

The effect of doing this is to achieve a sense of psychological comfort and self-consolation, but it can also reveal... the other person's tension and anxiety.

This explanation seems important, at least to him.

……

A faint light flashed at Lin Changheng's fingertips, and he easily broke through the sealing talisman on them, opening one of the jade boxes first.

The first jade box contained a bright yellow medicinal herb that had been picked. The rich aroma of the herb and the deep earth elemental power wafted out, indicating that the herb was at least a hundred years old!

"A third-tier [Yellow Phoenix Fungus] that is over a hundred years old?"

A hint of surprise flashed in Lin Changheng's eyes as he recognized the item.

This [Huanghuangzhi] is the main ingredient for refining many high-level earth-type pills, and it is a great tonic for earth-type cultivators, making it extremely valuable.

It's more than enough even for Core Formation cultivators!
With the cultivation level of the Qiu family patriarch at the peak of the early Foundation Establishment stage, obtaining this item was already extremely lucky.

Moreover, judging from the state of the broken piece, it was only recently harvested and must have been dug up from a secret realm, and was violently cut off!

"But why not preserve the roots?"

Lin Changheng noticed a key point and felt it was a pity.

But given the outcome, the process is no longer important; further investigation is futile and impossible.

After carefully resealing this item, Lin Changheng may not need this [Huanghuangzhi], but it can be used for trade and barter in the future, which shouldn't be a problem.

At the very least, you can exchange it for a high-quality Foundation Building Pill, and still have plenty left over.

This was also the original plan of the Qiu family patriarch.

……

His gaze shifted to the second jade box. When the second jade box was opened, even with Lin Changheng's composure, his eyes suddenly narrowed!
There was no dazzling light inside the box, only a root with soil attached, lying there quietly.

"Roots?"

Lin Changheng's nerves twitched instantly.

He no longer covets high-grade mature spiritual herbs, as they are unlikely to fall into his hands. Instead, he is focusing his efforts on finding... roots!
Then, through the true meaning of [Rongsheng Divine Power], it is used to accelerate growth and maturity.

Although it takes time and effort, it yields steady results, without relying on the weather or frequently venturing into secret realms or dangerous places.

During this trip to the secret realm, Lin Changheng only obtained the root of the second-tier Youth Preservation Pill's main ingredient, the Azure Moon Lotus, and the root of the Foundation Building Pill's three main ingredients, the Heavenly Crystal Lotus Root.

These things, which others would disdain and consider useless, can be put to good use in Lin Changheng's hands.

It's a different kind of "bargain hunting".

And these roots with soil were the third type of harvest he had made!

……

In Lin Changheng's sight.

This root, about the length of a finger, was a withered grayish-brown color, its surface covered with wrinkles, as if it had long lost all vitality, no different from ordinary dead tree roots.

The soil clinging to it seemed to be ordinary earth, devoid of any spiritual energy.

However, Lin Changheng's gaze suddenly sharpened, showing no disappointment but instead becoming incredibly focused and sharp!

This root must be something special, otherwise the Qiu family patriarch wouldn't have done it this way.

Lin Changheng naturally had no doubt that the other party was turning a waste into a treasure.

How could I be so stupid?
Lin Changheng carefully scanned the area inch by inch with his divine sense, searching for features, and began to recall the corresponding spiritual herbs that could be associated with those features.

About the time it takes to drink a cup of tea.

Lin Changheng made his judgment.

My heart started pounding.

This is clearly an auxiliary ingredient needed to refine the [Dust-Reducing Pill], which can improve the quality of Core Formation.

It's called "Dragon-Slaying Grass"!
This precious medicine is unique, unlike other spiritual medicines. Its appearance is no different from ordinary medicinal materials, making it extremely difficult to identify.

The land where it was planted was also ordinary soil.

Only when it matures will the innate vitality it contains and accumulates blossom and reveal extraordinary phenomena.

Moreover, this is one of the key auxiliary ingredients used in the refining of the [Dust-Clearing Pill], which has multiple functions and can be used to balance the violent medicinal power of the main ingredient, enlighten the elixir, and stimulate the spirituality of the elixir!

"What a find! I've been searching high and low, and now it's right here in my hands!"

Lin Changheng's eyes lit up.

This is also the first and solid step he needs to take in advance to prepare for the formation of the Golden Core!
Fake elixir, real elixir, golden elixir!
Considering the current state of his spiritual roots and the difficulty of forming a core, Lin Changheng did not aim too high; he only sought a [True Core].

Once the false core is formed, although one escapes the confines of the Foundation Establishment Realm, the path to enlightenment is almost destroyed, and further progress is impossible.

The path to Nascent Soul cultivation is completely blocked.

Because the quality of the pill formed by the fake pill is too poor, it cannot support the nurturing and development of the nascent soul, and may even cause the pill to crack and the person to die.

Therefore, their focus will shift to improving external methods and enhancing physical training, so as to continuously improve their strength; or to establish and develop their families and cultivate future generations.

True Core is somewhere between False Core and Golden Core, making it easier to achieve and less demanding on spiritual roots. If one has a [Dust-Reducing Pill], the chances are even greater.

Moreover, their future path will not be affected; however, their magical power and the probability of forming a Nascent Soul will be slightly inferior to those of Golden Core cultivators.

This can be compensated for by external objects and techniques.

Even when all conditions are set constant, it is still worse.

For example, the four Core Formation cultivators that Lin Changheng just saw, including the two patriarchs of the Sun and Song families, were all Pseudo-Core Formation cultivators.

The "Lingfeng Zhenren" of the [Jinan Palace] and the "Xuanji Zhenren" of the [Ziji Sect] are both True Core cultivators.

In fact, the entire Purple Extreme Sect does not have any publicly known Golden Core cultivators.

The reason is that the probability of a Golden Core cultivator reaching the Nascent Soul stage is relatively high, which makes the [Southern Palace] uneasy.

Whether it exists or not, it has to be hidden.

Otherwise, if suspicion arises, the consequences... are unimaginable.

Lin Changheng quickly and solemnly closed the jade box again and affixed a stronger sealing talisman.

This is truly a stroke of luck! This root is the greatest opportunity of his trip!

It was obtained from an enemy, which brought double the joy!
He suppressed his excitement, carefully put the jade box away, and quickly scanned the collection in the Qiu family patriarch's storage bag again. The collection was worth about three thousand spirit stones.

Besides, the most valuable item was the bronze bowl, a high-quality spiritual artifact of the second tier, low grade.

With a little refinement, one can tell that this item combines defense and control.

"It's a pity it's cracked. I'll go back and have Master Guo repair it. It can still be used."

After all, it was a high-quality spiritual artifact, and Lin Changheng was reluctant to sell it secondhand; he could keep it for his own use.

As long as you keep it in your possession, it won't depreciate; but once you sell it, its value will immediately decrease.

After confirming that nothing was missed, Lin Changheng flashed and transformed into a streak of azure light, quickly leaving the area.

……

More than a month has passed on the road.

A winding, dark river appeared before Lin Changheng; it looked quite familiar.

Blackwater River!
Back to the Blackwater River!
Lin Changheng did not return directly to Floating Life Immortal City, but instead took a detour.

One reason was to meet Tantai Feiyue.

Secondly, decades later, to avenge Old White, he needs to bring the ashes of his enemy to pay homage.

Thirdly, to inform the Xu family's higher-ups about the death of the Qiu family's patriarch.

It can help the Xu family annex the Qiu family, further increase their strength, and complete their expansion. Of course, he will certainly get a share of the spoils.

Lin Changheng increasingly realized that he was short of spirit stones, and there simply weren't enough.

Good items of the second and third tiers are priced starting at tens of thousands of low-grade spirit stones, which translates to hundreds of mid-grade spirit stones.

He also has several "big spenders" on resources.

Monster blood essence, body-refining materials, spirit beast feeding...

The first two types involve real, long-term consumption that must be consistently maintained.

Fortunately, he could refine pills himself, so he could still control the feeding of "spirit beasts," only incurring some cost in medicinal materials.

But this doesn't even include the amount of magical power he needs to cultivate.

Therefore, he felt poor again.

It just so happens that the Qiu family has a grudge against him, and his ancestor is dead. There is no risk, and he doesn't need to lift a finger to acquire a fortune. Why not?

The saying "to cut weeds, one must pull them out by the roots" is timeless, and the Xu family is well-suited to put it into practice.

……

Lin Changheng stood high above the Blackwater River, in front of the Xu family. He no longer concealed his aura. His Foundation Establishment stage spiritual pressure spread out like a ferocious beast awakening, enveloping the Xu family manor below.

This aura was powerful and stable, carrying an undeniable force that instantly shattered the tranquility surrounding the family's territory.

"Om..."

The clan's protective array light screen sensed this, rippling out in circles, and the warning bells rang urgently throughout the camp.

A commotion of surprise and uncertainty immediately arose from within, and soon, three figures swiftly flew out from inside, stepping on beams of light.

(End of this chapter)