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

Chapter 240 Lifespan Increases Again, New Seed Ploughs In (6K, 1 more chapter to make up for missed)

Tantai Feiyue's solitary pavilion.

in the secret room.

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged, focusing his mind entirely on introspection.

In his perception, he discovered that the medicinal power of the [Youth Preservation Pill] was not only not domineering and fierce, but also carried a strange vitality that nourished all things.

It gives people a sense of timelessness, as if time has been frozen.

The medicinal effects spread rapidly, permeating Lin Changheng's limbs and bones, seeping into every inch of his skin and every strand of hair, mainly gathering on the surface of his body.

His skin became more radiant and lustrous, his muscle definition became more perfect, and even his hair became darker and shinier. His entire appearance and physique were solidifying towards his current state.

Moreover, it will be immune to the ravages of time, and the effect will last for at least a hundred years, or even a lifetime for low-level cultivators.

Of course, Lin Changheng had already solidified his appearance using the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power], so this effect was merely icing on the cake and better than nothing.

At this moment, Lin Changheng was focused on another point:
The Youth Preservation Pill contains a small amount of vital energy, which can slow down the decline of the physical body to some extent.

Lin Changheng could clearly feel that his flesh, bones, and even meridians and energy channels were undergoing subtle and miraculous changes under the influence of this medicine.

A vibrant life force emanated from within, as if plants were rejuvenating in spring. His body was also being nourished, but the effect was only incidental and not as obvious as on his face.

"This is……"

Suddenly, Lin Changheng's pupils contracted, and he was overjoyed.

Because a familiar feeling rose within him.

The true meaning of [Rongsheng's Divine Power] actually began to operate on its own, and was once again attracted and moved.

"That's it! Longevity-promoting and originating from the same source!"

Lin Changheng rediscovered the feeling he had when he first took the [Face-Strengthening Pill], and immediately began to slowly circulate it in accordance with the instructions.

The latent "energy of time" within the elixir was stirred up.

Lin Changheng consciously controlled this cleansing through the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power], attempting to internalize it.

Suddenly, a feeling of comfort, like hugging a heater in the dead of winter, welled up inside him and washed over his entire body.

"My lifespan..."

Lin Changheng could clearly feel that his lifespan, which had remained unchanged since his last transformation into the Azure Wave Spirit Turtle, was slowly increasing again.

One year, two years, three years...

Four years, five years, six years...

He was overjoyed, and the true meaning of the [Glory Life Divine Power] was driven even more fiercely.

However, the effects that had been created on the exterior and inside the body began to peel away and fade.

As if digging three feet into the ground, it was all absorbed into the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power], transformed into its origin, and replenished as the foundation of lifespan.

Seven years, eight years, nine years...

"Ten years!"

Lin Changheng's appearance and flesh returned to normal, and the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power] could no longer be obtained, and his lifespan finally came to an end.

It has been 351 years, plus half a year!

"So that's how longevity and the same origin are! It can be absorbed and transformed by my divine power and true meaning, turning into the foundation of longevity. No wonder I had that feeling back then."

"That means a single second-tier [Youth Preservation Pill] can increase lifespan by ten years! This directly exceeds the theoretical lifespan limit of three hundred and fifty years for a pseudo-core cultivator!"

Then, an idea appeared in Lin Changheng's mind that he could hardly suppress.

If one continues to refine the "Youth Preservation Pill" and consumes it continuously, thus increasing one's lifespan indefinitely, could one achieve "immortality" in some sense?
But this beautiful idea was quickly shattered.

After Lin Changheng introspected, he realized that what the alchemy tradition said about the "Youth Preservation Pill" being a single pill that could only be taken once might be true.

But he was still not satisfied, so he took out the remaining defective "Youth Preservation Pill" from that time, tilted his head back and swallowed it.

When he tried to guide the medicinal power of this substandard "Youth Preservation Pill" into his body, the originally gentle medicinal power became unusually sluggish and repulsive!

No matter how he activated the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power], the medicinal power seemed to encounter an invisible barrier, and could no longer smoothly integrate into his origin as it had the first time, nor could it trigger the "youth preservation and youth lock" effect.

They merely circulate in the meridians in vain, and ultimately most of the medicinal power is naturally expelled by the body and slowly dissipates through the pores.

Only a very small portion was absorbed, but this only replenished a little bit of vital energy and had no effect whatsoever on the solidification of appearance and physique.

It was as if his body had developed some kind of absolute "resistance" to the [Youth Preservation Pill], and could not be changed by the same power again.

"Just as I thought..." Lin Changheng sighed inwardly, not too surprised, but it confirmed the accuracy of the records in the inheritance, and at the same time there was a slight regret.

However, upon re-examining that alchemy lineage, it was indeed mentioned in the text.

The same type of anti-aging pills cannot be effective repeatedly, but their quality can be compatible with lower-level pills.

Premium, Authentic, Defective...

After taking the inferior product, taking the genuine or high-quality version of this pill can make up for the deficiency.

Taking the genuine product first, and then taking the premium version of this pill, can also achieve coverage.

This also provides a way out.

If you take another [Premium Youth-Preserving Pill], you should be able to extend your lifespan even further.

Thinking of this, Lin Changheng thoughtfully took out a first-grade [Premium Youth-Preserving Pill] from his storage bag.

He had never taken this pill before. He had always used the genuine Gu Yan Dan (a type of pill for maintaining youthful appearance). After learning the true meaning of the Rong Sheng Divine Power, he stopped using it altogether.

Now we can verify this.

He immediately swallowed it.

"Gulu."

[Rongsheng Divine Power] The true meaning was directly driven, and some of the medicinal power dissipated outward, but the rest was internalized and absorbed.

May your life be extended by six months!

Lin Changheng revealed a look of certainty; his lifespan had now reached 352 years.

……

After that, Lin Changheng focused on his cultivation at the Xu family's residence and did not rush to leave.

He planned to wait for Mo Zhaoli.

After spending seven days with Tantai Feiyue, he also exchanged ideas on cultivation with Xu Hanji. On this day, a magic boat flew down from the sky.

Like lightning striking the sky, it moves at an extremely high speed.

Arriving at the Hidden Peak Dojo at lightning speed, a female cultivator in a fairy dress with a cinnabar mark between her eyebrows flew down from above.

His face showed urgency; it was none other than Mo Zhaoli.

With a flash, he instantly arrived at his grandfather's courtyard.

Lin Changheng quickly received the news and also left the pass and flew away.

The journey was short, but Lin Changheng did not enter to disturb them, but simply waited outside.

"grandfather……"

As Mo Zhaoli looked at the lifeless body of Mo Shi lying on the bed, his consciousness almost gone, tears instantly welled up in his eyes.

Some people became completely disoriented.

"Just clap your hands gently to awaken Master Mo."

Suddenly, a gentle male voice quietly rang in Mo Zhaoli's ears, "It was I who used the elixir to temporarily slow down Master Mo's loss of life."

"Brother Lin?"

Mo Zhaoli suddenly felt like she had found a pillar of support, and her divine sense surged out instantly. She "saw" the green-robed cultivator in the courtyard with a concerned expression, and her tearful eyes were filled with a sense of reliance.

Following Lin Changheng's instructions, she took a deep breath, suppressing her panic, and extended her slightly trembling hand to gently pat Mo Shi's withered palm in a special rhythm, while whispering in his ear:

"Grandpa, Grandpa... wake up... it's me, Li'er..."

Her voice was gentle yet tinged with sobs, filled with tender affection.

Under the combined effects of Lin Changheng's medicinal power and the call of his loved ones, Mo Shi's almost dormant life force flickered weakly, like a candle flame stirred by a gentle breeze.

His withered eyelids trembled with difficulty again, and this time, they seemed to open a little faster than before. His cloudy eyes also seemed to have a slightly more focused look.

“…Li…er…” His chapped lips moved, emitting a barely audible breath.

Although still extremely weak, after all... consciousness was temporarily pulled back from the brink of complete silence!
"Grandpa!" Seeing Mo Shi respond to her again, Mo Zhaoli's tears instantly burst forth, filled with both joy and sorrow. She held her grandfather's hand tightly, as if afraid that she would lose him if she let go.

Lin Changheng stood in the courtyard, "watching" this scene with his divine sense, and breathed a slight sigh of relief. He knew this was just a temporary measure, but it was always good to buy the grandfather and grandson more time to say goodbye.

……

Lin Changheng quickly withdrew his divine sense, not listening to the final words of the Mo family grandfather and grandson.

He stood with his hands behind his back under the eaves, gazing at the somewhat desolate scenery in the courtyard, his expression calm, but his eyes distant.

Inside the courtyard, one could faintly hear Mo Zhaoli's suppressed, intermittent sobs, as well as Mo Shi's barely audible, intermittent admonitions.

These sounds did not last long.

About an incense stick later, the faint life force in the room, forcibly condensed by the elixir and as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, jumped slightly like a burnt-out wick and then completely and silently dissipated.

There will never be another Master Mo in this world.

Immediately afterwards, Mo Zhaoli's heart-wrenching sobs, which she could no longer suppress, filled the room. The cries were filled with the boundless sorrow and helplessness of losing a loved one, and were truly heartbreaking to hear.

Lin Changheng sighed softly in his heart. Birth, old age, sickness, and death, the suffering of separation from loved ones—this is the cycle of heaven and one of the tribulations that must be faced on the path of cultivation, from which no one can be exempt.

He didn't go in to disturb them immediately, but stood quietly outside the door, waiting.

After a long while, until the crying inside the room gradually turned into low sobs, Lin Changheng gently pushed open the door.

Mo Zhaoli knelt before the bed, his shoulders trembling uncontrollably, his clothes already soaked with tears. The Mo Master on the bed had a peaceful face, as if he were merely asleep, but there was no longer any sign of life in his body.

Lin Changheng stepped forward and silently handed a clean, plain handkerchief to Mo Zhaoli.

"Master Mo passed away peacefully." His voice was low and gentle. "The last thing he couldn't let go of was you. He should be gratified that you were able to see him off on his final journey."

Mo Zhaoli raised her tear-filled face and looked at Lin Changheng, her eyes filled with sorrow, yet also with a trace of gratitude. She knew that if it weren't for Lin Changheng's pill, she wouldn't even have had this final chance to say goodbye to her grandfather.

"Brother Lin... thank you so much..." she said, her voice choked with emotion.

A cultivator in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage looks no different from a little girl who is several decades old.

After that, the woman's weakness and concerns disappeared.

"Please accept my condolences." Lin Changheng said softly, his heart aching. He knelt down and embraced Li'er.

I tried to offer her some warmth and ease her pain.

Outside the window, the sky gradually darkened, as if mourning the passing of an old man.

……

The Xu family held a grand funeral for Master Mo, with extremely high standards. He was buried in the Xu family's ancestral cemetery, next to a mid-level alchemist from the Xu family and a close friend of Master Mo.

Back then, he was killed by the enemy Chen family, which made the Xu family urgently need to replenish their ranks, and indirectly gave Lin Changheng, who was not a member of the clan, the opportunity to obtain the [Mid-grade Alchemy Inheritance].

After that, Lin Changheng's alchemy skills took off.

There is a certain history behind it.

It must be said that the Xu family did a really good job, directly making Mo Zhaoli clearly state that he would keep this kindness in his heart.

It can be said that, in addition to the three Foundation Establishment cultivators within the clan, there are also Lin Changheng and Mo Zhaoli, whom they have nurtured and invested in, not to mention the Foundation Establishment cultivator who was brought in by the Jiazi Secret Realm using a quota to join them, making a total of five people.

Even on paper, their combat strength surpasses that of the Liu family, an established Foundation Establishment family that cooperates with him.

Mo Zhaoli had a mission to complete, and after finishing his business, he didn't linger and immediately sailed away.

Lin Changheng also left, but in a different direction.

Before leaving, Xu Xujun said that once the matter was settled, he would make another trip to Xiancheng to deliver the harvest.

This was the second time the Xu family had expressed such firmness. "Very well, then we'll trouble Fellow Daoist Xu."

Lin Changheng nodded with a smile.

After greeting Fei Yue, Han Ji, and the Xu family's higher-ups, Lin Changheng smiled slightly, his figure like a sword piercing the sky, transforming into a streak of azure light and hurtling away.

In his storage bag, there was also a batch of demon beast essence blood.

It was transported from Qinglingfang by the Xu family.

The Xu family has never forgotten this point.

……

Seven days after Lin Changheng left, all preparations were complete, and the final clan war between the Xu and Qiu families began.

The Xu family's cultivators formed an army and headed towards the Qiu family's base at an extremely fast speed.

Tantai Feiyue also made a move at Lin Changheng's behest.

Her path was difficult and progress was slow, so she used resources to piling them up, throwing massive amounts of resources at it!
Where will these massive resources come from? From the enemy right in front of us.

However, Tantai Feiyue had no intention of going on a killing spree. She merely broke the formation and incidentally eliminated late-stage Qi Refining cultivators, thus playing a crucial role in stabilizing the battle.

The rest is none of her business.

The Xu family, who have been at odds for many years and have a deep-seated hatred for each other, will handle this.

Because their family resources were insufficient and they did not possess items such as soul tablets, the Qiu family members were slow to realize the danger and were still hoping that their ancestor could bring back resources from the secret realm.

As the days passed, instead of waiting, they were besieged by the Xu family, who took out the token of the Qiu family patriarch to psychologically break them and throw them into disarray.

Once the war began, the situation was immediately one-sided.

One-sided crushing.

Such clan wars, though seemingly brutal, did not actually cause much of a stir. In the cultivation world, such scenes were commonplace and nothing to be surprised about.

The cultivation world is vast, and time flies like an arrow. Every month, countless families and even sects are wiped out or exterminated.

……

Lin Changheng returned to the Floating Life Immortal City.

Nothing unexpected happened.

Before flying to the outer lake and entering Cave No. 98, Lin Changheng did not go in directly, but first used his divine sense to carefully scan the surroundings.

Even though more than half a year has passed, he is still worried that the late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator who was hostile to him last time is still harboring ill intentions towards him.

After repeatedly confirming, Lin Changheng finally opened the barrier and entered the cave.

"Brother Lin!"

A delighted cry rang out. After comforting the concubine who had rushed into his arms, Lin Changheng put down the two spirit beasts that had only served as companions along the way, and suddenly felt crowded.

They then went to the backyard of the cave dwelling and found that even the spirit fields were not enough.

Among the roots he obtained during his trip was one that required ordinary soil.

A type of fertilizer with strong absorption capacity and a huge demand for fertile soil.

These two are quite special, and planting them in clusters is definitely not advisable, as it would conflict with other valuable plants and could lead to uncontrollable consequences.

"Relocating the cave dwelling really needs to be put on the agenda."

Lin Changheng's eyes flashed, and he made a decision.

He doesn't need those spirit stones anymore, so there's no need for him to suffer unnecessarily.

Therefore, he did not immediately plant the roots and other parts, nor did he use the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power] to revive them.

There's no rush in the next few days.

But before relocating, Lin Changheng really had things to do.

Firstly, there was the selection of a location for the cave dwelling.

Second-tier spiritual lands are available for rent in the Ziji Sect area, the Qingxia Sect area, and even the Bixiao Sect area to the east.

There are quite a few options.

However, the grade of the spiritual veins in a sacred land is one aspect that needs to be taken seriously, and another important factor is the neighbors.

These spiritual lands are all available for rent. The larger ones can accommodate more than ten Foundation Establishment cultivators to build large cave dwellings, while the smaller ones can accommodate three.

The Yujing Mountain Taoist temple, where Master He Yunshu and Master He Fu resided, which I visited last time, was a shared accommodation for five practitioners.

There are five unique peaks in total, one for each person, and they do not affect each other.

But you can never avoid dealing with your neighbors.

The cultivation world is not without its share of treacherous neighbors who deceive and gain trust before infiltrating to kill and plunder.

In fact, Lin Changheng had encountered this before, when Cui Yinshi and his Daoist partner next door had ulterior motives, but they ran into a brick wall and ended up losing their lives.

Therefore, we must be cautious, after all, there is no way to guard against thieves for a thousand days.

……

Secondly, there is the essence and blood of the Azure Mist Toad.

The reason I was able to instantly kill that green-robed Foundation Establishment cultivator last time was thanks to the [Illusory Technique] that had been used to steal three levels of spirit, which had a miraculous effect when used in the forest.

This saved us from a lot of fighting.

Therefore, Lin Changheng paid even more attention to the effects of this unusual method.

Before leaving, Lin Changheng planned to contact Bai Hengwanbai's true disciple again to obtain another batch of essence blood, so as to avoid having to make another trip later.

At the same time, we will raise the level of [Hallucinogenic Anomalous Techniques] even higher.

……

As Yan Mingyi served him during his bath, especially with her wearing a nearly transparent gauze dress and bustling around, Lin Changheng's eyelids twitched involuntarily.

Enough is enough. With a soft cry, Lin Changheng grabbed the female cultivator and pulled her into the bathtub. Her gauze dress, now wet, revealed even more of her delicate features.

Her delicate and slender figure was on full display.

Lin Changheng gestured for Yan Mingyi to continue her work, and after taking a deep breath, he told her about his idea of ​​relocating the cave.

Upon hearing this, Yan Mingyi's small head, which was submerged underwater, suddenly rose, water droplets flying everywhere, her eyes sparkling like stars.

"Okay, okay!"

Yan Mingyi was clearly excited and repeatedly agreed.

"Hehe, by then, an entire mountain peak will be our training ground."

Lin Changheng chuckled, also looking forward to it.

Upon hearing this news, Yan Mingyi was filled with anticipation. She went back into the water and served her husband even more diligently.

……

That night, after working for a long time, Lin Changheng got up and went to his secluded meditation room.

They extracted the essence blood that the Xu family had collected again.

The golden essence blood looked dazzling and almost radiant.

There were more than four hundred bottles.

According to Xu Xujun, this comes from the essence of a kind of flying monster.

Its name is [Xuanfeng Bald Eagle], and its bloodline level is also [Turbid Fiend].

This eagle has a fixed habitat and gathers in flocks. The Xu family specifically gathered some demon-hunting cultivators who had cooperated with them before to hunt it down.

But after several years of hard work, they only managed to obtain a little over four hundred samples of essence.

It's quite difficult.

Speaking of this, Xu Xujun was a little embarrassed, after all, Lin Changheng had just sent a head as a gift.

But in Lin Changheng's view, it was done with care, and he didn't complain about the slowness or criticize it.

Instead, he smiled and offered a few words of comfort.

……

in the secret room.

Lin Changheng's eyes shone brightly as he gathered four hundred portions of essence blood into one place.

Reach out and touch the essence blood, communicate with the primordial cauldron with your consciousness, and begin the initial process of seizing the spirit.

[Mysterious Bald Eagle - Spirit Stealing and Rebirth in Progress]

[Spirit Stealing: 1/100]

……

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Effect: Bloodline of a turbid demon beast, naturally possessing the metal element, and innate talents of pouncing, insight, and feather splitting. Upon successful spirit-seizing, one can choose to refine one of these.]

Lin Changheng had a basic understanding of these three talents from his previous study of "A Study of Savage Monsters and Spirit Beasts," and he quickly realized what they represented.

The swooping attack is an evolution of the eagle's high-altitude hunting technique, which is somewhat helpful for Lin Changheng, who is in the late stage of the second-level body refinement.

It can help with close-range combat, but the extent to which it can be used is difficult to grasp and uncertain.

With Lin Changheng's formidable physique, even a late-stage Foundation Establishment cultivator would be torn apart if he were caught off guard and allowed to get close.

But the problem lies in how to get close.

The opponent won't just stand there dumbly waiting for you to kill them; they'll use escape techniques and teleportation to dodge and weave, making it easy for body cultivators to be kited.

……

Insight, naturally, is the wolf's gaze or the eagle's vision, derived from the eagle's incredibly sharp visual ability to see through illusions.

If this talent can be cultivated, it will greatly enhance Lin Changheng's eyesight and perception.

At that time, he might be able to see through the disguise more easily, see through the truth, and even anticipate the opponent's attack intentions and trajectory.

Complementing the divine consciousness might yield remarkable results.

This is particularly useful in combat, especially against cultivators with a wide variety of techniques, as it can greatly compensate for deficiencies in long-range perception and dealing with unpredictable methods.

……

The split feathers clearly originate from the hard and sharp characteristics of eagle feathers.

It is also the core method of the Metal element.

It serves as a defensive weapon for the [Mysterious Vulture], and can also be used to control sharp metallic energy like "feather blades" and "feather arrows" for ranged attacks. It may even enhance the eagle's agility and speed as it soars through the air.

……

Lin Changheng reached a conclusion with almost no hesitation.

Comparatively speaking, the [Insight] talent might be his best choice at the moment.

It can comprehensively enhance his combat awareness and ability to deal with complex situations, making it the most valuable, versatile, and stable.

Lin Changheng's mind raced, and he made his decision.

"Refine the [Insight] talent!"

Lin Changheng confirmed in a deep voice.

"Buzz!~"

The Yuan Ding trembled slightly, and the three phantom images of the treasure seeds withered and merged into the treasure seed representing [Insight].

[Already mastered: Insight into Otherworldly Techniques - Peeping into the Path]

(End of this chapter)