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

Chapter 259 Vajra Bodhi, Demonic Energy Hidden

"What's so unbearable?"

Lin Changheng's lips moved slightly, but his words were ruthless: "Fellow Daoist Wu has waited for so many years, a few more days shouldn't be a big problem, right?"

Old Taoist Wu chuckled: "When you haven't obtained it, it doesn't matter how long you wait, but once you have it, the lack of this one step is like a cat's claws scratching your heart, making it hard to control yourself."

"However, I was out of line. Please allow me to order some more spiritual food and wine for Fellow Daoist Lin to enjoy as an apology."

Lin Changheng remained noncommittal, then saw Old Taoist Wu summon the palace maids who were waiting outside, order a bunch of spiritual food and wine, and generously spend spirit stones.

After the waitress left, Wu Jiu Laodao clicked his tongue and said, "This time it was clearly me who paid the bill, so why didn't this woman show the same respect, admiration, and shining eyes as last time?"

Lin Changheng immediately burst into laughter.

This old Taoist priest is quite vengeful.

Last time, the waitress only smiled at him and ignored the old Taoist priest, which made him resentful. Now that the roles of host and guest have been reversed, although the woman also smiled, she did not have the same admiring look as last time, which made the old Taoist priest quite jealous.

But the old Taoist was just talking; he wouldn't actually kill someone to vent his anger. Otherwise, Lin Changheng wouldn't be able to cooperate with such a ruthless person at all.

The two drank and chatted, enjoying themselves quite a bit.

We enjoyed the food, the drinks, and the conversation.

In particular, when Lin Changheng deliberately inquired about the situation and past events of the Bixiao Sect and its subordinate areas, Wu Jiu Laodao did not hide anything and directly told Lin Changheng.

In particular, the other party knew quite a bit about some secrets of the [Bixiao Sect] and revealed them all.

This gave him a deeper understanding of the sect.

Compared to the Purple Extreme Sect, the Azure Cloud Sect gives people the feeling of a "dynastic end"—corrupted, rigid, with significant internal conflicts of interest and mutual attacks.

It was only because there were Core Formation cultivators in charge and the South Pole Palace's requirement for a stable situation that the Azure Cloud Sect was able to stand firm.

……

The appointed day has arrived.

Lin Changheng directly rented a short-term cave dwelling in the market as a place to refine that special spiritual material. Wu Jiu Laodao will be waiting outside.

But Lin Changheng naturally couldn't let Wu Jiu Laodao watch from the sidelines; instead, he waited outside the secluded meditation chamber.

It's also unreasonable to exclude the other party from the scene, since the two have just met and lack trust, and the other party might run away with the spiritual materials.

However, it is even more impossible to have the other party watching him. During the tempering process, his mind is mostly focused on controlling the fire and the spiritual materials, and his energy and spirit will also be reduced, which contains a certain risk.

Therefore, after receiving the spiritual material, which was about the size of two fists put together, from Wu Jiu Laodao, Lin Changheng went directly into the secluded cultivation room and put down the Dragon-Slaying Stone, which weighed as much as 10,000 jin.

Then, he waved his sleeve and set up two more arrays, finally feeling relieved.

His eyes then fell on the spiritual material he had obtained.

This object has a dull, lackluster golden-yellow color throughout, with natural wood grain covering its surface. Yet it also has a cold, hard, metallic feel. It feels extremely light to the touch, as if it were hollow, but it is not.

Upon careful sensing, one can detect a rather powerful yet mixed and stagnant wood spirit energy within, as if it were enveloped and blocked by countless impurities.

"Hiss... It's actually this!"

Lin Changheng responded instantly.

The substance that the old Taoist Wu sought to refine was actually the Vajra Bodhi Wood, one of the Seven Divine Woods.

This wood is remarkably indestructible, its hardness far surpassing that of refined iron, making it a top-tier material for crafting defensive magical artifacts.

However, precisely because of this, its internal structure is too dense, making it difficult for the wood spirit energy to circulate. In addition, it has been contaminated with certain impurities for a long time, which greatly reduces its spirituality, making it difficult to refine and unable to unleash its true potential.

"Just as the old Taoist said, the material is extraordinary, but the pearl is covered in dust."

Lin Changheng ran his fingertips across the cold wood surface. Under the sweep of the three-colored divine light, he could clearly "see" the blockages in the flow of spiritual energy within, as well as the impurities that adhered to the wood fibers like rust.

Like black silt in a pond, it is sticky and foul-smelling, clogging the pond.

Rudraksha wood!
Is this the treasure that Wu Jiu Laodao waited for for thirty long years?
It's truly a valuable item. Although it's not very big and is contaminated, it's still a precious treasure.

Because of the lustful desire, a fleeting urge to possess it crossed my mind for a moment, but I quickly suppressed it.

The fact that the other party dared to hand over the item for tempering is not only due to the constraints of the Dao Oath, but also because they must have the strength to back them up.

"How could there be Vajra Bodhi Wood in the Azure Cloud Gate area?"

Lin Changheng immediately remembered the key point, but it is undeniable that one of the pillar industries of the Bixiao Sect is spirit wood.

However, it is unknown whether the Vajra Bodhi wood is related to this.

……

"Ordinary earth fire and true fire are indeed unable to shake it in the slightest, let alone refine and purify it. Only a strange fire can..."

Without further hesitation, he sat down cross-legged and focused his mind.

A moment later, he opened his mouth and spat out a wisp of incredibly condensed, dark golden [Crimson Sky Profound Flame], which floated out slowly, hovering above his palm, radiating terrifying high temperature, even causing the surrounding space to slightly distort.

With a thought, the strange fire seemed to possess a spirit, enveloping the piece of [Vajra Bodhi Wood].

laugh--!
The moment the flame came into contact with the wood, it did not immediately ignite; instead, it emitted a loud bang, like a red-hot iron being plunged into ice water!
The dark golden surface of the wood instantly turned bright red, and wisps of blackish-gray impurities were forcibly expelled, only to vanish into nothingness under the intense heat of the flames.

"Is this...demon energy?"

Lin Changheng was startled, and his pupils suddenly contracted!

This smoke was not simply impurities and filth; its color was dark, and as it drifted, it faintly outlined a twisted and painful ghost face, emitting a cold, turbid, and corrosive aura!

He never expected that this seemingly simple piece of Vajra Bodhi wood, clogged with impurities, would actually contain such pure and malevolent demonic energy!
This is definitely not something that formed naturally!
Rather, it was a master of demonic arts who deliberately infused it with demonic energy to pollute and erode the essence of this spiritual material! Their purpose was either to destroy the object, or... to use it as a vessel to nurture demonic energy and refine some kind of insidious demonic magic weapon!

"If it weren't for the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] that I have to counteract it, ordinary cultivators would have a hard time removing this demonic energy by refining it with earth fire."

He immediately intensified his control over the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame]. This fire, extremely yang and powerful, was the nemesis of such yin and evil demonic energy. The dark golden flames shone brightly, like the blazing sun melting snow, scorching the [Vajra Bodhi Wood].

"Chichichichi——!"

More dark gray demonic energy was forced out, twisting and struggling in the air, emitting silent shrieks, but in the end, they could not escape being purified and annihilated.

Lin Changheng, however, was preoccupied with recalling a certain matter.

Previously, demonic traces had appeared within the area of ​​the [Bixiao Sect]. They were eventually struck down and wiped out, but it seems that they did not achieve a complete victory by annihilating them, and many of them escaped.

Is this Wu Jiu Laodao one of the demonic leaders who fled after lying in wait?

Or perhaps one of the demonic leaders fell into his hands, and he killed and plundered the sacred tree?
……

During the subsequent tempering process, Lin Changheng focused intently and carefully controlled the temperature and range of the flames.

Refining such spiritual materials is not something that can be done by brute force. It requires "slow simmering" to gradually burn away impurities without damaging the wood's structure, especially the original spiritual essence of the divine wood within.

This poses a certain test to both mental strength and magical power.

Time slipped away quietly in the secluded retreat room.

Under the continuous burning of the Crimson Flame, the volume of the Vajra Bodhi Wood slowly shrinks at a speed imperceptible to the naked eye, but its color gradually changes from a dark gold to a bright gold with an inner precious light. The wood grain on the surface also becomes clearer and more vivid, as if it has come to life.

The originally stagnant and mixed wood elemental energy began to become pure and active, subtly exuding an aura of resilience and immortality. ...

Seven days later.

When the last wisp of stubborn dark gray demonic energy was refined, the [Vajra Bodhi Wood] in Lin Changheng's palm had undergone a complete transformation!
"It's done!"

He dispersed the crimson flames.

The wood has shrunk by about a quarter, and the impurities inside have been removed, making it denser.

It looks like an ancient artifact meticulously crafted by a master, with a restrained brilliance. The wood itself has become translucent, and there seems to be a golden liquid slowly flowing inside, exuding an extremely pure and resilient wood spirit!

This is what it should look like!

Lin Changheng's face was only slightly pale. Seven consecutive days of precise control over the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] had taken a toll on him, but it was acceptable.

His eyes, however, were filled with joy.

But this joy did not come from the refined [Vajra Bodhi Wood], after all, it was just a collaborative task.

In fact, through the tempering of the Vajra Bodhi Wood, he also gained a certain understanding of the divine wood. When he compared it with the piece of "charred" wood he had obtained before, he found that the latter even surpassed the Vajra Bodhi Wood in quality and mystique.

This also means that the piece of wood, about the thickness of an infant's arm, that Lin Changheng is holding is likely to be one of the Seven Divine Woods!
It is highly likely to be a top-grade spiritual material that can be used to refine magical treasures!

How could I not be happy?!

……

Three days later.

Lin Changheng adjusted himself to his peak condition before opening the door and leaving.

"Friend Lin..."

Wu Jiu, the old Taoist who was meditating and waiting outside, heard the commotion and immediately rushed over.

His face showed a mixture of anticipation and nervousness. "How's the tempering going?"

Lin Changheng flipped his hand, and a piece of bright golden spirit wood appeared, which he held in his hand. "I have fulfilled my mission."

"Good good!"

Old Daoist Wu's eyes lit up slightly, his attention drawn to the food, and he subconsciously reached out to take it.

At this moment, Lin Changheng slightly withdrew his hand and stepped aside.

Wu Jiu Laodao's gaze immediately turned to Lin Changheng, only to see a hint of a smile on the other's face, with a touch of amusement.

"It was my fault, it was my fault. Please forgive me, Fellow Daoist Lin."

The slovenly old Taoist priest suddenly remembered something, apologized repeatedly, and immediately began to transmit his teachings through telepathy.

Lin Changheng smiled with satisfaction and began to carefully receive and ponder the information.

"good."

The old Taoist priest did indeed pass down a secret technique called "Discerning Spirits by Hearing the Wind".

Moreover, based on Lin Changheng's deductions under the fifth level of "enlightenment," this method should be without flaws. Furthermore, with the Dao oath guaranteeing its effectiveness, there should be no hindrance.

Therefore, Lin Changheng returned the refined [Vajra Bodhi Wood] to its rightful owner.

Then, quite curiously, he asked, "Is Fellow Daoist Wu about to leave this place?"

"good."

At this moment, Wu Jiu Laodao finished inspecting the spirit wood and revealed a satisfied smile. "I will be leaving soon."

"This wood is one that I, Lin, also quite admire. Since you are leaving, fellow Daoist, may I ask if you could reveal how you obtained it?"

Lin Changheng saw Wu Jiu Laodao off, and after a moment's thought, asked with a smile as he walked away.

"Haha, I have witnessed your uprightness and integrity, and our cooperation has been so pleasant. I am not an ungrateful person... Since that is the case, and I am about to leave, I will tell you the details. Perhaps you will also have the opportunity to obtain them."

After a moment's hesitation, Wu Jiu Laodao stopped and spoke in this manner.

"Then I, Lin, thank you very much, Fellow Daoist Wu."

Lin Changheng only asked the question, intending to subtly inquire about the origin of the item and to confirm the old Taoist's identity, but he was quite surprised that the other party readily agreed.

"Haha, easy to say. I wonder if Fellow Daoist Lin has heard of the Demonic Path's extermination?"

Wu Jiu Laodao spoke directly, pinpointing the key point precisely.

"Have heard a little bit."

Lin Changheng's heart stirred, and he nodded.

Then Wu Jiu Laodao explained in great detail.

It turns out that his [Vajra Bodhi Wood] really did come from a demonic cultivator.

He encountered a late-stage Foundation Establishment demonic cultivator who had escaped the siege of the [Bixiao Sect]. Instantly, his keen senses detected the faint traces of demonic energy on the other party, and he recognized his identity.

Before the opponent can act with malicious intent, strike first and kill them.

And we also obtained this sacred tree!
Moreover, the demonic cultivators all had related restrictions set up in their minds to lock the key points, but he still managed to piece together some important information from the fragmented memories.

This item is used to refine a demonic sacred artifact, and it is currently in the stage of being infused with demonic energy.

It is divided into four parts.

The four demonic cultivator leaders each held one piece.

Old Daoist Wu smiled and said that if Fellow Daoist Lin wanted to obtain the [Vajra Bodhi Wood], he could start by targeting the remaining demonic cultivators who were still in hiding.

……

"Thank you for informing me, Fellow Daoist Wu."

Having gained a basic understanding, Lin Changheng clasped his hands in thanks.

"Haha, and this old Taoist can also point out a direction for Fellow Daoist Lin, which is the west. This is also one of the pieces of information I have obtained."

Old Taoist Wu chuckled, said that he had said all he needed to say, and took his leave.

"See you later."

Lin Changheng escorted the other party out of the cave.

"See you later!"

Wu Jiu Laodao raised his gourd, took a sip, waved his hand, and suddenly his figure rose into the air and disappeared.

"That speed!"

Lin Changheng's eyes narrowed slightly. It seemed that this old Taoist priest had also concealed his cultivation level. No wonder he was able to kill a demonic cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage.

(End of this chapter)