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

Chapter 267 Advancement in Alchemy, Second-Tier High-Grade

The secret technique of "identifying spirits by smell" might be even more powerful than Lin Changheng imagined!

Even higher!
Because even ordinary secret techniques, or the strange and demonic techniques he possessed, could not achieve such an effect.

Thinking about it this way, the old Taoist Wu really hadn't lied to him. This method was truly incredibly useful for someone as cautious as him.

Lin Changheng's mind raced through all the things that had happened between him and Wu Jiu Laodao, and he vaguely began to recall them.

Especially regarding the Vajra Bodhi wood, it is perpetually imbued with demonic energy, deeply embedded within the wood, making it difficult for ordinary strange fires to remove.

Most of the time, only righteous and powerful yang flames like the Crimson Sky Profound Flame can suppress yin and evil energy and achieve the desired effect.

Different kinds of fire are rare, and those that are extremely yang and intense are even rarer.

He increasingly felt that the old Taoist priest Wu Jiu seemed to be waiting for him on purpose.

To be precise, they should be waiting for him to possess the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame].

"This person... is truly mysterious."

Fortunately, Wu Jiu Laodao had no other intentions and had already left. Otherwise, Lin Changheng would probably still be restless and unable to eat or sleep if he thought about it now.

……

After Confucius finished his sermon, a new session began.

That is, taking on apprentices.

Of course, there are many people who want to become disciples of a third-level alchemist, which is also the main reason why many high-level cultivators bring their juniors here.

Being able to become an apprentice of a third-tier alchemist means having ample resources of medicinal pills, profound alchemy knowledge, and a powerful backer—an opportunity that countless young cultivators dream of.

Lin Changheng simply stood quietly in the crowd, watching.

There were more than ten people in total, all young men and women, each looking nervous yet full of anticipation.

They were all exceptionally talented and dressed in fine clothes, clearly indicating that they came from distinguished backgrounds.

Among them, a girl dressed in a light purple dress, with a beautiful face and a slightly aloof temperament, was particularly eye-catching. Lin Changheng overheard whispers from the others that she was none other than the grand-niece of True Person Xuanji from the Purple Extreme Sect.

His name is Luo Su.

They are also seeking to become disciples of Confucius and Laozi.

"Even Master Xuanji's grandniece has come..."

"The Purple Extreme Sect wants to strengthen its ties with the Floating Life Immortal City!"

"I've heard that this girl has an exceptional talent for alchemy and is already a standout in the Purple Extreme Sect. She's only in her early twenties and has already entered the first-tier low-grade alchemy realm. It seems that the competition for Elder Kong's disciple position is fierce."

Hearing the murmurs, Lin Changheng's eyes flickered slightly.

The Ziji Sect is a major sect in the Song Kingdom, and True Person Xuanji is a renowned female cultivator who has reached the Core Formation stage.

Her grandniece's visit to become her disciple carries far more than just a desire for education; it also carries political implications of fostering good relations between two powerful factions. Whether Master Kong will accept Luo Su as his disciple will likely depend on a weighing of various factors.

The apprenticeship ceremony was quite solemn. Each young cultivator had to step forward, demonstrate their cultivation level, explain their family background, and answer several questions from Master Kong about alchemy or mindset. They even had to demonstrate and judge each other by refining pills in the furnace.

When it was Luo Su's turn, she behaved with grace and poise, answering questions fluently and demonstrating excellent upbringing and a solid foundation. Master Kong looked at her, his face still bearing a gentle smile, and nodded slightly, but did not immediately express his opinion.

Finally, after careful consideration, Master Kong announced that he had accepted three disciples, two men and one woman, all of whom were young people who had shown good comprehension and perseverance in the art of alchemy.

Notably, the prominent Losu was not included among them.

This result caused a suppressed uproar in the audience. Many people looked at Luo Su with strange or peculiar expressions.

Luo Su herself remained calm, seemingly unsurprised by the outcome. After bowing respectfully to Elder Kong, she quietly retreated back into the crowd, her demeanor still composed.

“One is a descendant of a pseudo-core cultivator from the [Southern Palace], one comes from the [Mysterious Ice Valley], and the other is a junior cultivator in the late Foundation Establishment stage…”

Lin Changheng's eyes flashed, and he muttered to himself.

Needless to say, the Southern Palace is the ruler of the Song Dynasty, and no matter what, the Floating Immortal City has to give it face.

As for the younger generation of rogue cultivators, one is also necessary, since [Floating Life Immortal City] is a holy land for rogue cultivators, and the city's lord also rose to his current position as a rogue cultivator.

Giving them a spot is a way of showing respect for our roots.

This also signals a move to consolidate the foundation of the Immortal City.

Xuanbing Valley is one of the five major sects and is not adjacent to Fusheng Immortal City, but is separated by Ziji Sect and Bixiao Sect.

This is also the fundamental reason why Confucius chose him.

Because it wasn't just the [Purple Extreme Sect], but also the [Azure Cloud Sect] and [Azure Cloud Temple], which border the [Floating Life Immortal City], had their juniors of Core Formation cultivators come to seek apprenticeship.

If you accept one of them, you will offend the other two.

Moreover, all three sects and factions made concessions in terms of geographical scope.

Therefore, the best answer is to not accept it.

The principle is that we should not worry about scarcity but about inequality.

Stepping outside the established framework, they ultimately chose an outstanding junior from a force that was not adjacent to their own.

Lin Changheng quickly grasped the deeper meaning, but couldn't help but lament that as part of a powerful force, even the freedom to accept disciples no longer existed.

After the final apprenticeship ceremony and the kneeling tea ceremony, the grand ceremony for the advancement of a third-level alchemist was drawing to a close.

The crowd dispersed in an orderly fashion.

Lin Changheng also mingled with the crowd and left, but was stopped by a familiar voice transmission.

"Young friend Lin, please wait."

Lin Changheng suddenly stopped, recognizing the voice as that of Elder Kong, and thus stayed as instructed.

Half an hour later, following a hidden guide, he followed the messenger, avoiding the dispersing crowd, and arrived at a secluded bamboo grove on a small island deep in the Floating Life Lake.

This must be the cave where Confucius practiced his spiritual cultivation.

"Squeak!"

The doors of the study were slightly ajar. Master Kong stood in the courtyard with his hands behind his back, gazing at the few green bamboos. The grand demeanor he exuded during the celebration had been replaced by a sense of peace and profundity.

"Junior Lin Changheng pays his respects to Elder Kong."

Lin Changheng stepped forward and bowed respectfully.

Master Kong slowly turned around, a gentle smile on his face, his gaze falling on Lin Changheng: "No need for formalities. I observed that when you listened to the Dao, your mind wandered beyond worldly things, pondering endlessly. Have you gained something, or are you also puzzled?"

Lin Changheng's heart skipped a beat, realizing that the other party had been paying attention to him, so he spoke frankly:

"Senior, you are wise. Your teachings on 'spiritual nature' and 'harmony and integration' are truly enlightening, giving me a new understanding of alchemy and even my own cultivation. However... I still have many questions about how to integrate these concepts into practice, especially in the refining of higher-grade elixirs." Elder Kong nodded slightly, seemingly quite satisfied with his honesty and comprehension.

"Please sit down."

He didn't answer directly, but sat down at the stone table, casually picked up a tea set from the side, and began to slowly and methodically brew tea, his movements flowing smoothly and naturally.

Lin Changheng sat down as instructed.

"Refining elixirs is like brewing tea."

As Master Kong operated the equipment, he slowly said, "Water temperature and fire control are techniques; tea leaves and water quality are materials. But blindly pursuing the exquisite techniques and the precious materials is merely a inferior approach."

He poured boiling water into the teapot, watching the tea leaves unfurl and float: "The key lies in 'intention.' You need to perceive the nature of the tea leaves, understand the temperature of the water, and grasp the best moment for blending. Only when the tea, water, fire, utensils, and even the surrounding breeze and bamboo shadows coexist in harmony can you create a good cup of tea."

"The same applies to the third-order alchemy."

Master Kong pushed a cup of fragrant spiritual tea in front of Lin Changheng. “The prescription is static, and the medicinal materials are static. But each medicinal material has subtle differences in its ‘spirituality’ due to its different years, places of origin, and times of harvest.”

“A true alchemist should not be completely bound by the formula, but should ‘listen’ to the needs of the medicinal materials, use your divine sense to guide them, find balance in conflict, and inspire new life in integration. This is ‘spiritual nature’, this is ‘harmony and integration’.”

He pointed at Lin Changheng: "When you were refining pills before, you focused too much on 'controlling' the flames, striving for absolute precision. This is certainly the foundation, but if you want to step into the realm of a second-tier high-grade alchemist, or even a third-tier alchemist, you need to learn to 'guide' and 'let go,' and resonate with the medicinal properties."

These words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, directly pointing to the core of Lin Changheng's current predicament!
He had been stuck at the bottleneck of "one batch of three fine pills" for a mid-grade second-tier alchemist because, after achieving increasingly precise control over the flame, he could not find a path to further advancement.

"Guide...let go...resonate with the medicinal properties..."

Lin Changheng muttered to himself, his eyes growing brighter and brighter, as many blockages were suddenly cleared!
Master Kong smiled silently as he watched the man's sudden enlightenment, and quietly sipped his tea.

After a long while, Lin Changheng finally came to his senses from that profound state, stood up and bowed deeply to Master Kong: "This junior... understands! Thank you, Master Kong, for your guidance!"

After receiving guidance and seeing the light, Lin Changheng changed his address again, calling him "Master Kong".

This guidance was far more valuable than any alchemical formula or manual, pointing him in the direction to a higher realm of alchemy!
Master Kong gave him a slight helping motion, clearly quite pleased with the title "Master Kong," and laughed heartily, saying, "It's good that you understand. You still have to walk your own path. Go, and properly digest what you've learned today."

Lin Changheng thanked him again sincerely, and then, with great excitement, took his leave.

"What a pity."

Master Kong watched Lin Changheng depart, accompanied by the celestial messenger, his eyes filled with admiration. Then, he picked up his teacup and sighed, "If my alchemy had not been hindered, and I had broken through a few years earlier, I could have taken this boy as my disciple. In the future, he might very well have been able to revive the glory of my sect and fulfill my late master's last wish..."

But now, Lin Changheng has already stepped into the second-tier high-grade alchemy path, so taking on more disciples would be useless.

He felt that there was little more he could do to help the other party.

……

For the next month.

Lin Changheng stayed in a temporarily rented cave dwelling, never venturing out of the main gate or stepping outside.

I was completely absorbed in the fire.

He devoted himself to alchemy.

After an unknown amount of time, an increasingly pure and rich fragrance of medicinal pills emanated from the furnace, and Lin Changheng suddenly focused all his attention.

He made a hand seal to collect the elixir, and a beam of spiritual light precisely entered the elixir furnace.

"Om-!"

The alchemy furnace emitted a clear, melodious hum. The furnace lid opened, and ten streams of light shot out in quick succession as if drawn by a magnet, tinkling and clattering as they landed crisply in the prepared white jade plate.

Lin Changheng immediately focused his gaze, his eyes instantly drawn to three of the pills!
These three pills were completely different from the other seven. They were crystal clear, as if they were carved from the finest glass, with a smooth and flawless surface and a faint, shimmering light.

It was a top-quality elixir!
Three high-quality pills of the second rank, mid-grade.

"call--"

Lin Changheng let out a long breath, his tense mind suddenly relaxing, a surge of joy and a sense of accomplishment welling up inside him. His eyes gleamed, and he couldn't help but whisper:

"Finally! Three excellent pills! This means... I have truly reached the pinnacle of the second-tier mid-grade alchemy!"

But he didn't stop. After a short rest to recover his magic and energy, he continued to open the furnace.

While the iron is hot, let's try refining a second-grade high-quality pill.

Insights that remain in the mind will forever remain just insights. Only by putting them into practice, verifying and colliding with them in practice, can they be transformed into nutrients for growth and progress.

As the stove lid was opened a little further, the fire went out again.

Looking at the fully formed, emerald-green, genuine pill in his hand.

Only then could he not help but reveal a smile.

Although no laughter echoed in the cave, an indescribable sense of joy and pride still filled my heart!
"A second-grade high-quality pill... I, Lin Changheng, have finally succeeded in refining it today!"

Once you cross this step, the road ahead will be smooth!
This also means that he has the ability to foresee the third level of alchemy!
In reality, every small step in alchemy has blocked many alchemists, and many alchemists are even stuck at the middle level of the second rank for their entire lives, unable to make any progress.

Through his own comprehension, the guidance of Master Kong, and long-term summarization, he finally succeeded in breaking through the barrier with this genuine emerald green pill!

This means that from this day forward, Lin Changheng is now a true second-tier high-grade alchemist!

He is good enough to be a guest of honor for many powerful forces!

……

After finishing his work, Lin Changheng sent a message to Elder Kong and Bai Hengwan, informing them of this.

The one given to Master Kong was written with sincere words, purely to express the deepest gratitude for his previous guidance. He frankly stated that without the senior's guidance, he would never have been able to reach the threshold of the second-tier high-grade so quickly.

The latter is a simple disclosure from an ally, while also demonstrating the enhancement of its own value.

This is also crucial.

Without waiting for their reply, Lin Changheng directly expressed his farewell at the end of the jade talisman message.

Therefore, he naturally had no way of seeing it—

In the bamboo forest hermitage of Fusheng Lake, Master Kong, who was stroking his beard and reading the alchemical text, suddenly froze his usual gentle and composed expression the moment he received the message from the jade talisman, turning it into an undisguised look of astonishment!

"Second-tier high-grade? How long has it been?"

Even with Confucius's extensive knowledge and refined mind, he couldn't help but lose his composure at this moment.

He knew all too well how difficult it was to cross the threshold from the middle grade of the second rank to the upper grade, and Lin Changheng's progress was far faster than he had expected.

After the initial surprise, a deeper sense of appreciation and anticipation flashed in the depths of his eyes.

Meanwhile, in another exquisite and magnificent palace, Bai Hengwan, who was handling affairs, suddenly stood up from her jade throne after reading the contents of the jade talisman. Her beautiful eyes widened, her red lips parted slightly, and her face was filled with disbelief and shock!
And joy!

(End of this chapter)