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

Chapter 262 The Hundred-Refined Spirit Puppet, Cultivation Breaks Through Again (6K words, 1 words updated today)

"She must be Brother Lin's concubine."

Cheng Suling suddenly said.

"Oh? I didn't know that. I thought some friendly cultivator was using this place to break through."

Upon hearing this, Xu Maoling's eyes showed a hint of surprise, clearly not expecting it. He immediately stroked his beard and smiled, "It seems that Fellow Daoist Lin is quite a man of character."

The reason for saying this is not for any other reason, but because Xu Maoling also had concubines by his side, and more than one of them.

However, he would not and could not provide Foundation Establishment resources to his concubines, since they would be worth tens of thousands of spirit stones. Although he had no family ties, he still had to reserve the resources for his own path.

That's why he said it with such emotion.

"There is no right or wrong in this matter, after all, everyone has different ideas, but it must be said that his concubine has met a good man."

Although Cheng Suling was aloof and intelligent, she also possessed the inherent sensitivity of a woman. Her beautiful eyes gazed at the still-rumbling vortex of spiritual energy, and she spoke with her red lips slightly parted.

"That's right, Fairy Cheng is right."

Xu Maoling had no intention of discussing it further. His Dao heart was firm, and all his decisions were in accordance with his own conscience. He did not care about what others said.

He then jokingly changed the subject, saying, "However, Fellow Daoist Lin has never had a Daoist partner, and he is handsome and talented, with considerable strength and skills. He and Fairy Cheng are a match made in heaven. If Fairy Cheng is interested, I, Xu, can act as matchmaker."

Cheng Suling chuckled lightly, "There's no need for matchmaking. Brother Lin might not even be interested in me. However, I still thank Brother Xu for his kind offer."

"hey-hey."

Xu Maoling just smiled, not caring, and didn't continue the conversation.

The two looked at each other for a while, and Xu Maoling suddenly laughed and said, "This time, breaking through to the Foundation Establishment stage should be a sure thing. It seems that the two of us should prepare a gift basket."

"That's right. Jade Belt Lake has gained another early Foundation Establishment cultivator. It's something to celebrate."

Cheng Suling saw the spiritual energy vortex slowly dissipate and the strange phenomenon subside. In its place came a new spiritual pressure from the Foundation Establishment stage, which, due to a lack of proper control, spread in all directions. This was a core sign that the Foundation Establishment stage was nearing completion.

He immediately nodded in agreement.

Neither of them watched any longer. Once the dust settled, they each returned to their respective islands.

……

For Yan Mingyi

The sound that rang in her heart was an illusory "crack," like the crisp sound of glass shattering, which greatly invigorated her.

Obstacles vanished, revealing a vast and boundless future!
A spiritual pressure, far purer and more vast than that of a Qi Refining stage cultivator, erupted from her body and swept across the entire cave!
Her skin became more radiant, her temperament more ethereal, and her spiritual power began to grow. Within her dantian, liquid spiritual power began to gather, and a phantom of a Dao foundation was slowly condensing!

It worked!
At this moment, Lin Changheng also realized this, and relieved, he continued to drink tea in the lakeside pavilion.

A month later, the stone gate to the cave opened, and Yan Mingyi stepped out. Her appearance remained the same, but her eyes and brows held a confidence and radiance she had never shown before.

She bowed gracefully to Lin Changheng, her voice filled with excitement and gratitude: "Mingyi has lived up to expectations. Thank you, my husband, for your help and protection!"

Lin Changheng offered a slight gesture of support, nodded, and smiled, "It's because your own foundation is solid and your will is firm. I only provided some external assistance. Now that you have established your foundation, the Great Dao is within reach."

"Thank you, husband."

Yan Mingyi threw herself into Lin Changheng's arms, her senses a mix of emotions, but mostly joy and deep affection for the man nestled in her arms.

"Oh, right, I have something..."

"Oh, right, my husband, I..."

Unexpectedly, the two of them spoke at the same time.

"You speak first."

"My husband, you speak first."

The two sentences were uttered simultaneously again, and they immediately smiled.

"Then I'll go first."

Lin Changheng took out an exquisitely carved jade box from his storage bag and handed it to Yan Mingyi, saying, "This is a gift from your husband to celebrate your breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment stage."

Yan Mingyi's eyes lit up, filled with curiosity and joy. She took the jade box, which was cool to the touch, clearly made of an extraordinary material.

She gently opened the box, and a warm, vibrant green light immediately flowed out.

Inside the box was a soft brocade, upon which lay a jade bracelet, entirely emerald green and translucent, delicate and flawless. It seemed as if mist and clouds flowed within it, emanating pure wood spirit energy and a calming aura. It was clearly a low-grade spiritual artifact!
"What a beautiful bracelet!" Yan Mingyi couldn't help but exclaim softly, carefully picking up the jade bracelet and feeling its smooth, warm texture.

“This bracelet is called ‘Bi Ning’. I specially found it for you some time ago.”

Lin Changheng said gently, "It can not only calm the mind and aid cultivation, but also contains a 'Green Wood Protective Spell' that can automatically protect its owner and withstand a full-force attack from a Foundation Establishment cultivator. With this item to protect you as you enter the Foundation Establishment stage, I can feel more at ease."

"If all else fails, we can also sacrifice and use a trap to impede the enemy."

This gift was not only precious, but also full of heartfelt sentiment and care. Yan Mingyi felt a warm current surge in her heart. She stroked the cool jade bracelet, looked up at Lin Changheng, and said with eyes so tender they could drip water: "Thank you, my husband. Mingyi likes it very much."

She carefully put the jade bracelet on her wrist, its emerald green color making her skin appear even whiter. After a pause, a blush rose to her face, and she bit her red lips, having made up her mind.

Now that the foundation has been broken, the source is unobstructed. From now on, may I strive to obtain some of my husband's favor?
If I can bear children for my husband...

Thinking of this, she lowered her head slightly, her ears turning blush, and dared not look directly into Lin Changheng's eyes.

When Lin Changheng saw Yan Mingyi's shy appearance, he was taken aback. He didn't know what she had suddenly thought of, nor did he know that he would encounter a concubine who had changed so much in her boudoir. He simply asked, "What were you trying to say just now?"

"After my breakthrough, the memories that were locked in my mind by the secret technique were released, and I was able to see the [Second-Tier High-Grade Puppet Inheritance] that my grandfather had promised. I will record it later and show it to my husband."

Yan Mingyi was much better after that and began to talk about something.

Lin Changheng immediately slapped his forehead. He had almost forgotten about this matter. In the last will and testament of Master Yan Kui, it was written that Lin Changheng should take in Yan Mingyi for thirty years, or wait until she became a Foundation Establishment cultivator, in which case he could obtain a second-tier puppet and a second-tier high-grade inheritance.

At the time, the latter two were quite attractive to him.

But nearly thirty years have passed, and Lin Changheng's strength has grown to the point where he can kill even those in the late Foundation Establishment stage. Looking at these things now, he no longer feels such a strong desire.

"it is good."

But Lin Changheng still nodded in agreement.

After all, it is a second-tier high-grade puppet inheritance. It is worth taking a look. Although there is a professional puppeteer by his side to make puppets for him, it is still helpful to understand it in the future when facing enemies who control puppets.

……

That night.

After completing his physical training as usual, Lin Changheng cultivated in the secluded training room.

Suddenly hearing soft footsteps, he assumed it was Yan Mingyi coming to deliver the inscribed jade slip of inheritance, so he didn't use his divine sense or open his eyes.

But the next moment, a gentle breeze carried a light and delicate body into her arms.

Lin Changheng caught it subconsciously, but found it to be soft and sticky to the touch.

"Um……"

It was obvious that they were completely naked.

Lin Changheng was very clever; how could he not know that his cultivation would be forced to be temporarily postponed? He immediately took the opportunity to fall down and let the other party do as they pleased.

After all, she had only just broken through to the Foundation Establishment stage, so such things could be tolerated to some extent.

……

Late at night.

Lin Changheng took the exhausted Yan Mingyi back to her bedroom, but acted as if nothing had happened. He returned to his secluded room and began to examine the jade slip that Yan Mingyi had taken out when she begged for mercy, hoping to stop the fight, but his plan was rejected.

Yan Mingyi's cultivation level was still too shallow to transform into a fox demon and absorb vital energy.

After a while.

Lin Changheng withdrew his consciousness from the jade slip.

This lineage is called the "Hundred Refinements Spirit Puppet Manual"!
After a quick glance, Lin Changheng observed that the first-tier puppetry skills were of average complexity, and he could get the hang of them relatively quickly. However, breaking through to the second tier and achieving mastery would be quite difficult.

After putting it away again, Lin Changheng had no plans to study or delve into it for the time being.

After all, Yan Mingyi's puppetry skills were already on the verge of reaching the second tier.

Once he breaks through to the second tier and creates numerous second-tier puppets, they can become one of his core combat methods, so there is really no need for him to start from scratch again.

What belongs to a concubine is one's own.

There is no doubt about this.

Then he continued his cultivation.

The "Jade Void Bright Scripture," having reached a state of perfection, began to operate with a thunderous roar.

Lin Changheng vaguely sensed that his breakthrough was imminent!
Since breaking through to the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment at the age of 85, he is now 96 years old, almost 97!

Nearly twelve years have passed, and the accumulation is finally nearing its end.

If this technique had not been cultivated to perfection, given its slow cultivation process, the time required would have been significantly increased.

To date, there has been no news of Mo Zhaoli, who broke through to the mid-Foundation Establishment stage a year earlier than him, breaking through again.

It is evident that every step of the Foundation Building stage is quite difficult.

This becomes increasingly true as you go further in the story.

It's just that there are no bottlenecks in the lower realms, which is much better.

If you have enough resources, it's just a matter of how much time you spend; eventually you'll be able to cultivate to the sixth level of Foundation Establishment, which is the peak of the mid-Foundation Establishment stage.

However, the less time is used, the more room there is for subsequent development, and the greater the potential.

Of course, potential is still potential, and it still needs to be realized.

……

This day.

Lin Changheng hosted a banquet, inviting the two island owners and their neighbors to celebrate the foundation building ceremony together.

The banquet was held in a pavilion by the water, offering a panoramic view of the lake and mountains. Spiritual fruits and delicacies were displayed in front of the banquet, all of which were specialties of Jade Belt Lake and spiritual dishes prepared by the cooks dispatched by Cheng Suling, filling the air with fragrance.

Cheng Suling is a shrewd woman. Seeing that there were only Lin and Yan on Qiyue Island, she knew that the host couldn't be the one to cook the meal.

So they sent their own cook from the island to help.

"Congratulations to Fairy Yan on successfully establishing your foundation and taking another step forward on your path to enlightenment! Congratulations also to Fellow Daoist Lin!"

Xu Maoling still looked like an old farmer, with a simple and sincere smile. He raised his glass in celebration and presented a "Stabilizing Orchid" that he had cultivated himself, which was very beneficial for stabilizing the Foundation Establishment realm.

"Congratulations, both of you."

Cheng Suling, dressed in a light blue dress, remained as beautiful as ever, smiling and chatting. She presented a bottle of "Stone Heart Earth Milk," which is effective in stabilizing magical power and cleansing the physical body.

"Thank you, Fellow Daoist Xu, Fairy Cheng."

Lin Changheng and Yan Mingyi, who was already a Foundation Establishment cultivator and had a more graceful demeanor, raised their glasses in return.

Today, Yan Mingyi specially wore that "Bi Ning" jade bracelet, its shimmering green light adding to her charm.

The atmosphere at the banquet was harmonious.

suddenly!

A blinding crimson streak of light flashed across the sky, its hurried and chaotic appearance completely disregarding the usual tranquility above Jade Belt Lake. It hurtled through the air with an almost reckless and chaotic momentum, heading straight for the neighboring Shengyang Island! This scene naturally caught the attention of the four people present.

Cheng Suling and Xu Maoling exchanged a glance, their eyes flashing with surprise and seriousness.

"Fellow Daoist Luo, why are you in such a hurry? What has happened...?"

"I don't know..."

The two began to communicate telepathically, both showing a hint of awkwardness on their faces as if they wanted to say something but couldn't.

"It's alright, you two can go ahead and do what you need to do. That fellow Daoist seems to be in a hurry, so don't let it delay important matters."

Lin Changheng, however, spoke with a smile.

"Thank you."

The two said something in unison, either cupping their hands or giving a slight bow, before disappearing into the void.

"My lord, do you know the person who came to visit?"

As the formation closed, Yan Mingyi suddenly asked.

"I don't recognize him, but he's most likely the fellow cultivator who went treasure hunting with them last time."

After saying that, Lin Changheng added, "It was the time when I didn't go."

"It seems that the matter last time was not handled well and may have caused trouble."

Yan Mingyi had some guesses.

“Your husband gets a headache just thinking about trouble these days. It has nothing to do with us, but they should be able to handle it.”

Lin Changheng sighed and said quietly.

Through the formation, their gazes also fell upon the scene of the three of them quickly entering Shengyang Island together.

Yan Mingyi covered her mouth and chuckled softly.

She quickly got up and poured her husband a full glass of wine.

……

In the following six months.

Lin Changheng also increased the frequency of his trips to the mountains behind the island.

Because it's harvest time.

His secret garden of spiritual plants is now very different from what it used to be.

The concealment formation set up when the site was first established is still functioning well. From the outside, it still appears as a desolate place with jagged rocks and overgrown weeds. But once you step into the formation, the scenery suddenly opens up.

The once sparse spiritual plants are now lush and vibrant.

Thanks to the abundant spiritual energy of Jade Belt Lake, the spiritual soil carefully prepared by Lin Changheng under the guidance of the Dharma given by Fellow Daoist Xu, and his frequent use of the true meaning of the [Rongsheng Divine Power] to nurture and accelerate the growth of these spiritual plants, their growth far surpasses that of the outside world.

The Heavenly Crystal Lotus Root, one of the main ingredients in the Foundation Building Pill, has matured after more than twenty years and is ready to be harvested.

The main ingredient of the Youth Preservation Pill, [Blue Lotus], is of similar age, also over twenty years old, but it needs to be aged for another ten years before it can be used in medicine.

The [Zhu Yan Guo Cao], which is also a main ingredient in the Youth Preservation Pill, has already been harvested once and is now undergoing a new round of growth after being stimulated to grow again.

As for the rest of the spiritual herbs, the earliest one obtained, [Earth Vein Polygonatum], was already eighty years old.

The other medicinal herbs are also about forty or fifty years old.

When they all reach the age of a hundred, they will become a rich resource.

Whether for personal use or for barter, it is excellent.

……

During this time, Cheng Suling, Xu Maoling, and that fellow Daoist Luo went on another long trip.

There must be something that needs to be taken care of.

Furthermore, he specifically informed Lin Changheng, hoping that he would help take care of Island One and Two.

Otherwise, if the other party left quietly, Lin Changheng would have things to do and couldn't keep an eye on things all the time, so he certainly wouldn't have known.

But Lin Changheng agreed to their request, though with a condition.

This clearly indicates that he himself might also be going out, and if something happens then, he might not be able to provide timely support.

This is a disclaimer.

"Brother Lin, you don't need to worry about that. The chances of something going wrong are extremely small, and the chances of something going wrong are even smaller if you're not around."

Cheng Suling smiled and said, "Moreover, our formation will not stop rotating, and with the [Purple Extreme Sect]'s reputation, the chances of it being impacted are extremely small."

Even so, Lin Changheng still used four words to express his opinion: "Do your best."

While the alliance of offense and defense exists, the other two are not present, and the responsibility of protecting Mishima falls entirely on Lin Changheng's shoulders, which is impossible for him to honestly shoulder and accept.

Not long after, Lin Changheng received a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator who came from [Floating Life Immortal City] seeking elixirs.

Her name is Zhang Cuicui.

He had a square face, bright and piercing eyes like a leopard's, and although he had no beard, he still had a rugged appearance.

Lin Changheng received a real-time message from him.

That was Elder Kong, the alchemist Kong, at the heart of the Immortal City, who had broken through in the Dao of Alchemy.

He became a third-tier alchemist!
The Immortal City did not deliberately suppress this news, which allowed it to spread rapidly to all directions and to various sects and factions.

It caused a sensation.

With a third-level alchemist in charge, there will inevitably be some fake pill makers and even Core Formation cultivators coming to ask for pills. If not for any other reason, they will at least ask if there is a good price.

As a result, the Immortal City has once again become famous, attracting even more cultivators to visit it.

The reason why Lin Changheng hadn't heard about it before was because the news hadn't spread past this mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator.

"Thank you for letting me know."

Lin Changheng greeted him with a smile.

These cultivators seeking elixirs from outside were also a crucial part of Lin Changheng's intelligence gathering efforts.

Therefore, they usually chat for quite a while.

As for cultivators seeking elixirs, they are naturally happy to cultivate a good relationship with Alchemist Lin.

After all, providing some information that isn't confidential costs them nothing.

As if she had thought of something, Zhang Cuicui immediately lowered her voice and said, "There are rumors outside that Master Lin and Elder Kong of Immortal City have a very close relationship and are friends despite their age difference. I wonder if these rumors are true?"

"No wonder Fellow Daoist Zhang took the initiative to bring this up with me; the reason is quite simple."

Lin Changheng immediately feigned realization, and then, seeing the other person's curious gaze, he shook his head and said, "My relationship with Elder Kong is not that close. We just occasionally discuss alchemy, exchange ideas, and make progress together. Of course, I have gained more."

"hiss……"

Zhang Cuicui didn't believe Lin Changheng's first half of his sentence at all, because she believed that things wouldn't come out of nowhere. But the second half of his sentence made her heart skip a beat. She looked at Lin Changheng with shock in her eyes. Discussing alchemy with a quasi-third-level alchemist.

But considering Master Lin's alchemy skills and his long-standing reputation, this impossible thing might actually happen...

The alchemist Lin before him was probably far more profound and unfathomable than he had previously imagined!
Zhang Cuicui's smile immediately became even more enthusiastic.

Lin Changheng took in all the changes in his expression and understood that the reputation of "discussing alchemy with Confucius" had been initially established, which would be of great benefit to his future actions.

After all, rumors were flying around wildly, and all sorts of outrageous speculations about his relationship with Master Kong were rampant. It would be better for him to take the initiative and guide things slightly in a direction that would be favorable to him...

Immediately afterwards, Lin Changheng inquired about the Huang family's recent situation from Zhang Cuicui.

Because Chef Zeng did not come to ask for pills again that year.

There is a lack of relevant information.

The answer was that although the Huang family's clan feud had not been officially declared over, it was in fact in a state of de facto truce.

Several families are currently in close contact, presumably negotiating, and a result should be reached within the next two years.

Lin Changheng felt a little relieved. After all, the most convenient way for him to go to the Immortal City was to pass by the Huang family; otherwise, he would have to take a long detour.

Time-consuming.

In that case, we can pass through directly.

After agreeing on a time to retrieve the elixir, Zhang Cuicui was satisfied. She flattered him a few more times before happily taking her leave.

Watching Zhang Cuicui's departing figure, Lin Changheng turned and walked towards the alchemy room to begin refining pills.

But as soon as he released the Crimson Sky Profound Flame into the alchemy furnace, Lin Changheng felt a strange sensation.

"finally come!"

Lin Changheng was not surprised but delighted. Sensing the surging, critical wave of magical power in his dantian and the mysterious opportunity for breakthrough, his eyes shone brightly.

He immediately withdrew the flames, then whispered a message to Yan Mingyi, who was studying puppetry. In a flash, he stepped into the secluded cultivation room, where the heavy Dragon-Slaying Stone crashed down, isolating the inside from the outside.

The spirit-gathering formation was activated to its maximum in an instant, and a large amount of spiritual energy from heaven and earth was frantically drawn in, forming a visible vortex of spiritual energy above.

Inside the secret room, Lin Changheng sat cross-legged on a futon, his hands forming a mudra.

The cultivation technique was running at an unprecedented speed. Without hesitation, he swallowed several spirit pills that he had prepared in advance to improve his cultivation. At the same time, he held two mid-grade spirit stones in his hand and frantically absorbed the pure spiritual power within them.

boom!
The immense medicinal power and spiritual energy flowed into his meridians like a torrent bursting its banks, being rapidly refined and finally merging with his own accumulated magical power, transforming into an unstoppable force that swept away the impurities.

Without encountering any obstacles, the magical power surged like a mighty river, eventually flowing into the magical lake in the dantian.

"Om~"

A wave of refreshing and powerful sensation arises spontaneously.

Lin Changheng knew that this was a breakthrough!
Foundation five layers complete!

Lin Changheng slowly opened his eyes, his gaze filled with divine light, his aura thirty percent stronger than before his seclusion! He felt the surging power within his body, and a satisfied smile curved his lips.

Regardless of the magnitude of the obstacle, every breakthrough is a solid step towards the path to immortality.

……

While Lin Changheng was still consolidating his cultivation, two people came to deliver a message.

Judging from his robes, they looked quite familiar; he was none other than the envoy from the Immortal City.

Lin Changheng hadn't expected that they were also responsible for communication outside the Immortal City.

We received them and also received an invitation.

Lin Changheng was taken aback.

It was discovered that the Immortal City would be holding a ceremony for Master Kong's advancement in alchemy.

Lin Changheng was invited to visit.

(End of this chapter)