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

Chapter 304 Sword Embryo Metamorphosis, Power Advancement

Qiyue Island, the rear hall of the cave dwelling, is off-limits to outsiders.

With Yan Mingyi's delicate hands at his side, Lin Changheng slowly removed his long robe, revealing his strong, well-proportioned, and smooth-lined body, and stepped into a huge medicinal bath tub that was half the height of a person.

The water in the bucket was not ordinary hot water, but rather a deep amber color. The liquid was viscous, with a thick white mist rising from its surface, emitting a strange aroma that blended the fragrance of herbs and the scent of sharp metal.

This is the highest-level combination of body-refining materials in the "Auxiliary Body Refining Method" of "Evergreen Body".

There is no one who can surpass him.

The most precious main materials had already been obtained, and Lin Changheng had also collected all the remaining auxiliary materials through various captured storage bags and purchases from the Immortal City.

It was formed after being carefully prepared by Yan Mingyi.

"hiss……"

As soon as he entered, Lin Changheng let out a muffled groan and frowned slightly.

The seemingly calm medicinal liquid actually contained violent energy, like countless fine needles or scorching magma, instantly penetrating his pores and frantically drilling into his limbs and bones.

A torrent of scorching heat, accompanied by the stinging sensation of wooden needles, surged through his meridians, muscles, and bones, as if trying to tear him apart and reshape him.

He dared not delay and immediately activated the "Evergreen Body of the Azure Wood" technique, transforming the power and stimulation of the medicinal bath into his inner strength.

His skin, exposed outside the medicinal liquid, which was originally covered with blue-green markings, instantly turned bright red, like a red-hot iron. Wisps of white heat rose from the top of his head and condensed at the top of the quiet room.

His muscles trembled slightly, and his bones made a faint crackling sound, as the medicine tempered and strengthened his body.

Yan Mingyi quietly stood by her side, watching her husband grit his teeth and endure the pain of body tempering. Her beautiful eyes were full of heartache, but she dared not make a sound to disturb him. She simply placed the pills for repairing his body within easy reach.

After finishing this task, she took a graceful step, turned around, and left, unable to bear watching.

To others, her husband's alchemy skills were astounding, his connections were strong, and his strength was remarkable. They imagined him living a leisurely and comfortable life. But only she, the person who was always by her side, knew the extent of her husband's hard work and the hardships he had endured.
In the world of cultivation, apart from a very few who are favored by heaven and earth and receive three times the reward for every bit of effort, most cultivators often face the predicament of giving without receiving anything in return.

Fortunately, her husband's sacrifices were all worthwhile.

……

As time went by, Lin Changheng's furrowed brows gradually relaxed, and his trembling subsided.

He gradually adapted to the pain and was able to absorb the medicinal power more effectively. He could clearly feel that his body was becoming stronger at a slow but steady pace, his blood and qi were becoming more vigorous, and his meridians seemed to have widened slightly under the influence of the medicinal power.

After an unknown amount of time, the color of the medicinal liquid in the bucket gradually faded, and the spiritual mist also became thinner.

Lin Changheng suddenly opened his eyes, a flash of brilliance in them. He stood up, splashing water in his wake. His body shimmered with a precious light, his muscles seemingly more perfectly defined and restrained, exuding an explosive sense of power.

This medicinal bath for body training has yielded remarkable results.

But upon closer inspection, one can see that beneath the radiant light, there are numerous fine cracks on the skin, as if they have been cut open by sharp blades, covering the entire body, with drops of blood seeping out.

Although the body has a self-healing power at work, at this moment it is no less than a boat being overturned in a raging storm.

Lin Changheng knew that this damage had exceeded the limits of the [Self-Healing Ability] and could only be weakened slightly.

How is this terrifying situation any different from the "death by a thousand cuts" of my past life? If a cultivator with a weak physique and a weak will were forcibly forced into this medicinal bath, they might suffer severe skin and flesh separation, profuse bleeding, and even death...

"call out!"

Lin Changheng opened his mouth and inhaled, and the pill that was placed aside was drawn into his mouth by the airflow that was generated out of thin air and swallowed.

As soon as the pill entered the stomach, the [Dark Blazing Profound Flame] immediately danced within, aiding in its refining process. Strands of medicinal power were absorbed by the body, and scabs formed on the cracks on the skin's surface.

This is the powerful medicine forcefully pushing the healing process forward.

Lin Changheng breathed a sigh of relief. It really hurt, but he was restraining himself and enduring it.

……

In the past few years, besides the necessary cultivation, alchemy, and ripening, Lin Changheng also did several important things.

Firstly, there was the bone shield obtained from the fake Dan demon cultivator.

Because of the severe damage and little repair value, it was violently dismantled by Lin Changheng. Combining some of the concepts of the [Spirit Marriage Technique] with the amazing comprehension boost brought by the fifth level of [Enlightenment] state, he actually reversed and derived a unique method for refining materials.

Then, using this method, he painstakingly extracted some rare [Bone Essence] from the remains of the bone shield.

These bone fragments are as fine as powder, yet as white as snow, with an incredibly delicate texture. They gleam with a warm, jade-like luster under the light, but are surprisingly heavy to the touch, as if one were holding a thousand-pound weight.

Upon closer inspection, one can discover that it contains a highly concentrated Yin-attribute energy and a robust quality that has been refined over time.

The final amount obtained was approximately three ounces.

Looking at the handful of hard-won, pure white bone powder in his palm, Lin Changheng's eyes flashed with satisfaction. This bone essence was of extremely high quality, far surpassing anything refined from the bones of ordinary demonic beasts. After all, it was the core material of the third-tier defensive magic weapon that the fake core cultivator had painstakingly refined.

Due to insufficient quantity, they were temporarily incorporated into the bone shield to enhance its quality and defensive capabilities.

Use it for now.

Who knew that this powerful shield would be attacked from behind by a True Core Talisman, multiple Magic Treasure Embryos, and a Third-Order Spirit Fire before finally shattering.

The results are already impressive; even a true [magic weapon embryo] would find it difficult to withstand.

He carefully placed the three or four bone spirits into a specially made jade box, affixed a spirit-sealing talisman, and stored it away safely.

You can never have too many precious materials, and the higher the level, the more you have to barter!
……

Secondly, there is the [Vajra Bodhi Wood].

This sacred tree was intended by the demonic cultivators in the [Azure Cloud Gate] region to be used to forge some kind of demonic holy artifact.

Later, the demonic cultivators were exposed and besieged. They scattered and each fled with a portion of their forces.

Wu Jiu Laodao won a round, and Lin Changheng won a round afterward.

During this time, Lin Changheng used the [Dark Flame] to refine away all the demonic energy that had seeped into it.

What remains is a seven-inch piece of Vajra Bodhi wood, restored to its original state.

Previously, Lin Changheng's refining of the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] for Wu Jiu Laodao was not very efficient, but after the [Crimson Sky Profound Flame] transformed into the third-tier [Dark Radiance Profound Flame], the time was shortened by at least half.

Moreover, this piece of Vajra Bodhi wood is longer than the previous one.

Keep this item safe for later use.

……

Thirdly, there is the practice of the [Blood Shadow Escape].

Lin Changheng did not rashly use this technique, but thoroughly understood its theory, operating rules, how to transform essence and blood into the power of the escape technique, and so on.

At the same time, combining his intuition with his reasoning, he discovered that this technique was indeed feasible.

Even with a slight activation, one can feel the surge and intense vaporization of qi and blood, which is a precursor to the activation of "Blood Shadow Escape".

Then cut it off immediately, not wanting to waste the essence and blood.

The main purpose of this attempt is to ensure that it can be used immediately when needed.

It is worth mentioning that,
Lin Changheng is also making continuous progress in the advanced spells he has recently mastered.

For example, the "Shadow Escape Technique" has now reached its peak.

The "Secret Technique of Smelling Wind and Distinguishing Spirits," which I obtained from the old Taoist Wu Jiu, has reached a minor level of mastery. It is usually used in conjunction with divine light and divine sense, and its effect on perceiving danger and exploring the outside world is even better.

……

The last one is the art of insect control.

Thanks to the existence of the Fivefold Enlightenment and the inheritance in hand, Lin Changheng was able to enter the basics without spending too much time and became a first-level insect controller.

Especially after obtaining the strange insect [Soul-Eating Miasma Worm], Lin Changheng arranged it on the island according to the formation pattern in Cui Yin's academy.

The only difference is that instead of human corpses, they used the corpses of demonic beasts.

Lin Changheng personally killed five late-stage first-tier demonic beasts that were being raised in the back mountain, and then carved strange runes on their skins in a similar manner!

And in the center of these five demon corpses, a palm-sized, pitch-black "small banner" was planted!
The layout is exactly the same as before, almost a replica!

They attempted to nourish the Soul-Eating Miasma Worms, allowing them to grow and multiply!
Lin Changheng plans to first increase the population of this insect to over a hundred before making any further moves.

After all, pest control largely relies on sheer numbers to be effective.

The Insect Demon that once struck fear into the hearts of cultivators was one that cultivated tens of thousands of mature golden and silver-colored strange insects. With a wave of its hand, these insects would swarm in like two-colored clouds, thus establishing its formidable reputation and terrifying fame.

So, there's still a lot left!
……

Two months later.

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged in the secluded meditation chamber, his expression solemn, his magical power surging and forming invisible currents within the chamber.

A small jade sword floated in front of him; it was his natal sword embryo.

Compared to the beginning, the sword embryo's spiritual light is now more restrained and profound, with a warm yet sharp radiance flowing throughout its body. It seems as if some living thing is slowly breathing and pulsating inside the sword, and its spirituality is far stronger than before!

The existence of the [Spirit-Nourishing Demonic Technique] accelerated the nurturing of Lin Changheng's natal [Sword Embryo].

Beneath the sword embryo, the originally ferocious but now cracked and dim-looking [Nine Ghost Soul-Destroying Nail] was being slowly burned and refined by a ball of dark golden [Dark Radiance Profound Flame].

The flames did not burn wantonly, but rather, like the most precise carving knife, under the control of Lin Changheng's powerful divine sense, peeled away the remaining impurities, resentment, and unclaimed chaotic spirituality from the Soul-Destroying Nail, extracting only the purest spiritual essence and the refined Yin Sha that had been repeatedly tempered.

This is precisely the crucial step in the [Spirit Marriage] technique—refining the "sacrifice"!
As time passed, the Soul-Slaying Nails, scorched by the Dark Flame, had their material peeled away, falling to the ground devoid of any spirituality.

The embryonic form of this magical artifact gradually shrank, eventually transforming into a small, twisting mass of liquid essence shimmering with dark gold light. Within it, the spiritual core pulsed slightly like a heart, pure and powerful.

"This is the moment!"

Lin Changheng's eyes flashed with a sharp light, and his hands moved rapidly like butterflies flitting among flowers, forming hand seals. Profound runes flew from his fingertips and disappeared into the ball of black liquid.

At the same time, he bit his tongue, spitting out a mouthful of blood essence containing his own primordial energy. The blood essence merged with the runes, transforming into an intricate crimson restriction that completely enveloped the entire mass of liquid.

"Marrying the Spirit... Begin!"

He let out a low shout, and the blood-red restriction enveloped the extracted essence, transforming it into a stream of light that shot fiercely towards the sword embryo floating above!
Om-!
The sword embryo emitted a clear and cheerful hum, and the sword body shone with a bright blue light, accepting the stream of light without resistance.

In an instant, the surface of the sword embryo flashed intensely, with cyan, gold, and black light alternating and flowing. A sharp and incomparable chilling aura, carrying a hint of dazed soul, erupted from the sword embryo, causing the entire secret chamber to vibrate!

Lin Changheng's face paled. He unleashed his full divine sense, desperately trying to stabilize the sword embryo and guide the foreign spirituality to merge with the sword embryo's own spirituality. This was a perilous process; the slightest mistake could damage or even corrupt the sword embryo's spirituality.

However, he was well-prepared, possessed a strong spiritual sense, and had a Yuan Ding secretly guarding his sea of ​​consciousness, ensuring that his mind remained calm and without any flaws.

After all, it involves stealing the spiritual essence of other magical artifact embryos, which yields enormous profits, so it's natural that there are risks involved.

Therefore, Lin Changheng chose to personally implement the technique only after thoroughly understanding it and making full preparations.

……

Time slips by bit.

Under Lin Changheng's careful control, the spiritual essence from the Soul-Destroying Nail was slowly devoured and absorbed by the sword embryo. Its sharp aura enhanced the sword embryo's sharpness, while the pure Yin energy was assimilated by the sword embryo's own killing will, transforming into a more unpredictable and ethereal quality.

After an unknown amount of time, the vibrations of the sword embryo gradually subsided, and the three-colored radiance finally merged completely, transforming into a deep and restrained cyan color.

Moreover, upon closer inspection, one can see that there are some fine and mysterious natural patterns on the sword's body, as if they were inscribed by nature. Its spirituality has increased dramatically, and the spiritual pressure it emits has increased significantly. It has accumulated at least 40% of the energy to truly transform into a magic weapon!

This is an extremely rapid and terrifying rate of transformation.

The progress is due to the combined power of the [Spirit Marriage] technique and the [Spirit Condensation Demonic Art]. If either were missing, the progress wouldn't be this terrifying.

Generally speaking, a Golden Core cultivator can upgrade a magic weapon embryo to a magic weapon after five years of dedicated refinement.

True Core cultivators typically need ten years.

Because the core of a pseudo-core cultivator is impure and the purity of their magical power is insufficient, it takes at least twenty years for them to achieve true mastery.

Refining and refining a magic weapon embryo in advance during the Foundation Establishment stage can make three years of hard work equivalent to one year of using a fake elixir.

That is equivalent to the result of Lin Changheng's more than 20 years of painstaking refinement!
Regardless, the [Spirit Marriage] technique has been successfully completed!

Lin Changheng couldn't help but wonder if he could obtain another magic weapon or a powerful embryo called "Jia Ling" and make even more amazing progress.
Suppressing this adventurous thought, Lin Changheng looked at his natal sword embryo, which floated before him, radiating spiritual light and flowing with ethereal beauty. He felt the immense power and agility within it, far surpassing anything he had experienced before, and his heart returned to peace and composure.

Clearly, after being enhanced by the [Spirit Marriage] technique, the power of this sword embryo is now comparable to a second-tier high-grade exquisite spiritual weapon!
Then, with a flash, Lin Changheng arrived at the back mountain with the sword embryo.

With a slight thought, one can directly control it.

The azure sword embryo emitted a pleasant, clear sound, and in an instant transformed into a faint shadow that was almost impossible to detect with the naked eye, darting swiftly through the mountains.

Its speed far exceeded anything seen before, leaving only fleeting afterimages in the air, and the sharp sword wind it generated cut intricate marks all over the mountainside.

"go with!"

Lin Changheng pointed his fingers like a sword at the massive boulder weighing tens of thousands of pounds on the mountaintop.

laugh--!
There was no deafening roar, only a very faint sound, like tearing silk.

The dark blue sword shadow had already pierced through, leaving a fist-sized hole with smooth, mirror-like edges! What was even more chilling was that the area around the pierced hole presented an eerie, decaying gray color, before exploding into powder with a bang and falling down, as if completely annihilated by the chilling, murderous aura contained within that sword strike!
The sword shadow nimbly turned back in mid-air, hovering in front of Lin Changheng, its eerie light flickering as if it hadn't quite reached its full potential. A slight smile played on Lin Changheng's lips. He was satisfied with the power, and controlling it was now much easier, as if it were his own arm. The sword's own spirituality had become more active, and its connection with his mind had become even closer.

"Good! With this sword embryo in hand, I have nothing to fear regarding most of the turmoil caused by this Song-Jin War!"

He reached out and gently stroked the cool blade, feeling the intimacy and joy emanating from the sword's core, and a cheerful and confident smile appeared on his face.

In reality, with Lin Changheng's cultivation level, he could only barely manage to control a high-grade spiritual artifact; his insufficient level would inevitably lead to limitations.

However, the magic weapon embryo is different. It is closely related to the magic weapon, and it is easier to control and consumes less energy. Appropriate and frequent control will not cause excessive burden.

Its power is in no way inferior!
……

half year later.

Lin Changheng, who was in seclusion, was once again interrupted and asked to leave by his own concubine.

"Mingyi, what is it?"

Lin Changheng was not annoyed by this. Yan Mingyi had been by his side for decades, and the two had worked together very well in terms of life, habits, and handling matters. While they might not be completely in sync, they were at least 80-90% in sync.

This interruption must be for something important, otherwise he wouldn't have done it this way. He patted Yan Mingyi's head and asked with a smile.

“The two island owners from the neighboring islands came together, saying they had important matters to discuss with my husband.”

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator and a second-tier puppeteer, Yan Mingyi was someone who could be called an ancestor in the cultivation world, yet she acted no differently from a young girl in front of Lin Changheng. She even gently rubbed her head against his palm and blinked her beautiful eyes repeatedly.

"Oh? Then something really big might have happened!"

Lin Changheng frowned, a premonition forming in his mind.

Recently, the two neighbors have been in close contact, and neither of them has traveled far, for fear of being caught in the turmoil in Song and losing their lives.

If it weren't for something truly important, they would usually visit Lin Changheng another time after hearing that he was in seclusion, but this time was clearly different.

Dark clouds loomed over both the Song and Jin regions, but who among those living there could remain unaffected?
It seems trouble has finally arrived!

Lin Changheng hurried forward to see them.

……

"I apologize for keeping you two waiting."

Lin Changheng cupped his hands in greeting to his two neighbors who were sitting silently and somewhat sullenly in the hall.

"Fellow Daoist Lin!"

"Brother Lin, you're too kind."

Upon hearing the voice, the two quickly stood up and bowed to greet each other.

"I heard that you two fellow Daoists have something to discuss with me?"

Lin Changheng sat in the main seat, his gaze sweeping over the two of them, and asked directly.

Cheng Suling and Xu Maoling exchanged a glance, and finally Xu Maoling spoke, his tone heavy: "Fellow Daoist Lin, it's like this..."

Xu Maoling quickly recounted the events:
"Recently, a group of unidentified cultivators has appeared on the edge of our Jade Belt Lake. They are acting extremely rampantly and ruthlessly."

He paused, a grim expression on his face: "Just three days ago, they attacked a medium-sized spirit mine located no more than a hundred miles from our three islands. This mine was owned and jointly developed by the three races, with each race sending a mid-Foundation Establishment cultivator to oversee it... but no one survived. All the mined spirit ore was looted, and everyone was slaughtered, leaving no survivors..."

"Baili?"

Lin Changheng had already guessed this, so he didn't show any surprise, but a hundred miles was indeed a bit close.

In the world of cultivation, treacherous cultivators commit crimes on the move, and a hundred miles is not even considered a distance.

"That's right, it's Baili."

Xu Maoling nodded in confirmation. Previously, he and Lin Changheng had always felt that no matter how chaotic the situation outside was, they might not necessarily come to Jade Belt Lake. After all, the residual power of the Purple Extreme Sect in killing fake core cultivators was still there, and their three islands could remain unscathed in the storm.

Reality, however, gave him a harsh lesson, forcing him to be on guard. After all, the group of silver-masked cultivators had nearly wiped them out of the island last time.
"Moreover, the methods of the calamity cultivators are ruthless, and there are no eyewitnesses, so we know nothing about them. But we can guess that the fact that they dared to attack three families and quickly kill three mid-Foundation Establishment cultivators means that their strength is not weak, and at least they have several late-Foundation Establishment cultivators."

"And the three of us are all skilled in many areas, making us easy targets for easy prey..."

Lin Changheng thought Xu Maoling's guess made a lot of sense, but not wanting the atmosphere to be too heavy, he met their gazes and deliberately smiled, saying, "Fellow Daoists, there's no need to worry too much. You two are both at the late Foundation Establishment stage now, and I'm about to enter the late Foundation Establishment stage as well. Even if a tribulation cultivator attacks, with our respective formations, we should have enough strength to resist, right?"

"Brother Lin is right."

Cheng Suling tapped her fingertips lightly on the table and pondered before speaking, "The main problem is that the enemy is in the dark while we are in the light. They are lurking in the shadows, while we have no idea how many people they have or what methods they are skilled in. If they run out of patience and choose to launch a full-scale attack, that would be fine. But I'm afraid they might use some underhanded methods to wear us down, which would be truly impossible to defend against."

"At the same time, as long as the other side sends people to tie down the other two islands, just like last time, preventing them from providing assistance, and the remaining forces work together to break through one island and carry out a strategy of defeating them one by one, then our mutual assistance will probably become a useless piece of paper."

Upon hearing this, Lin Changheng fell silent.

Cheng Suling's words were indeed very true. Once the Jie Xiu did this, going out to rescue the neighbors would require leaving the formation and facing the enemy directly. However, if they did not leave the formation, they would only be defeated one by one.

That's human nature. When faced with the choice between sticking out one's neck and sticking back, people will definitely choose the latter, and may even expect different variables to appear after sticking back.

If we want to overcome the situation Cheng Suling described, there is only one solution. "My suggestion is that we construct a large array to cover all three islands. If we encounter danger, we can use smaller arrays to jointly repel the enemy without the risk of being separated. However, if the large array is broken, it proves that our combined efforts are useless, and you and I can find our own way to survive..."

"Reasonable!"

"agree."

Lin Changheng and Xu Maoling both agreed with Cheng Suling's suggestion.

Lin Changheng has his own strengths and can escape on his own in most situations, but with the cave dwelling and the business he manages here, he is reluctant to give up easily.

Moreover... in this Song territory, where is there any place that is absolutely safe?

Thus, the joint defense cooperation among the three islands was upgraded once again, with each island sharing the costs.

In fact, this practice of "cooperative settlement" is a common choice for many families and tenants of sacred sites.

……

Three months later.

Cheng Suling invited a familiar array master to set up a second-tier "Clan Protection Array," which covered a small portion of Jade Belt Lake, including the three islands.

Security has indeed improved significantly.

During this period, the outside world has become even more dangerous and turbulent.

The newly established market town, located fifty miles from Jade Belt Lake, was also infiltrated by bandits who burned, killed, and looted. The news had a severe impact.

I heard that the inspection and law enforcement team of the [Purple Extreme Sect] has also been alerted and is on its way to deal with the situation.

Because there were strange rumors that the Ziji Sect only cared about the safety of its core ruling area, while those in slightly peripheral and remote areas were expelled from the register and their lives were disregarded.

Once such remarks spread, they could easily shake the rule of the Ziji Sect.

Therefore, it is essential to demonstrate one's attitude; the difference between "doing it but not being able to do it" and "not doing it at all" should be made clear to all practitioners.

……

On the surface, the three islands of Yudaidai Lake appear quite safe, but some issues have arisen.

Many cultivators who came to buy various craft products mysteriously disappeared and were never seen again.

Suspected murder.

It seems that there are cultivators lying in ambush outside.

The spread of this rumor caused a significant drop in Mishima's business, making it much harder to operate.

Lin Changheng had a lot of unfilled orders for pills, so he wasn't in a hurry. Xu Maoling and Cheng Suling, however, were in a bad mood.

To advance further in the late Foundation Establishment stage, even more resources are needed, and resources for Core Formation must even be prepared in advance. Now that things are being done this way, customers are being scared away, and income has decreased significantly. Where will these resources come from?

Although he was determined to eliminate the thieves, he dared not go out on his own.

If we are surrounded and ambushed and fall into a trap, wouldn't that be a righteous death?

Xu and Cheng felt as uncomfortable as if they had swallowed flies, and when the three of them met for a meal, they often sighed.

Lin Changheng merely feigned empathy and offered words of comfort, without taking any action whatsoever.

We can only hope that the [Purple Extreme Sect]'s inspection and enforcement team will arrive soon to deter these scoundrels and make them behave themselves so that they can continue to do business.

……

Soon, a message arrived.

They arrived even earlier than the [Purple Extreme Sect]'s inspection and enforcement team.

It was clearly from the Immortal City, delivered by Bai Hengwan, concerning Master Kong.

Lin Changheng's expression shifted repeatedly upon hearing this news, his meaning unclear.

Indeed, Master Kong succeeded in breaking through to the Core Formation stage, but it was a false Core Formation.

He vaguely remembered what Bai Hengwan had said: that Master Kong could have broken through to the False Core stage long ago, but he was too proud and unwilling to stop there.

The outcome was unexpected; after years of dormancy, they focused all their efforts on recovery and striving for a breakthrough.

Unexpectedly, fate played a cruel trick on him; after all his twists and turns, Confucius still managed to form a false elixir!
All the suffering and hardship I endured along the way... it was all for nothing.

Confucius must also find this result hard to accept and need some time to process it and make peace with himself.

Therefore, Lin Changheng didn't know whether to celebrate or not, whether to offer congratulations or not.

We can only wait for Master Kong's decision on whether or not to hold a banquet.

"This is the way of immortality! Truly ruthless, and unaffected by human will."

Lin Changheng sighed, then made up his mind, "We must make all the necessary preparations before we can begin to make a breakthrough!"

"Moreover, we must not be careless, but remain steady and not suffer the same fate as Confucius due to negligence. We must learn from his mistakes!"

This matter concerns the great principles of life, and Lin Changheng could not afford to be careless.

That being said, if Confucius hadn't wasted so many years, his chances of forming the elixir would certainly have been much greater.

To be able to attempt to form a golden core and succeed in doing so after such a calamity is something that ordinary people cannot do.

……

half a month later.

The thieves became even more rampant, at one point even going so far as to plan to kill and rob on Jade Belt Lake, outside the great formation, and pursue the pursuers.

"Damn it, this is blatant provocation!"

Even the usually mild-mannered Xu Maoling couldn't take it anymore and almost started cursing.

This is a Foundation Establishment cultivator from a family. They had just agreed on a long-term procurement cooperation with him, but then this happened. How could they not be angry?
If the other party dies, not only will the agreed cooperation fall through, but one's own reputation will also be affected and may even be ruined.

"Brother Xu, don't be impulsive. They might be trying to lure you out of the formation."

Cheng Suling spoke with a clear mind, attempting to stop Xu Maoling.

"Indeed, Fellow Daoist Xu should prioritize remaining calm."

Lin Changheng waved his folding fan and echoed the comment.

Xu Maoling's chest heaved violently as he stared at the fleeing ray of light in the distance and the fierce, pursuing light behind him, his fists clenched so tightly they cracked.

You must know, the latter is only in the mid-Foundation Establishment stage, yet he dares to do this... He's not stupid, how could he not know that this is most likely a trap set by the other party? But the thought of that cooperation agreement makes his heart ache.

"I... sigh!"

He slammed his fist on the table. "Are we just going to stand by and watch them commit atrocities right under our noses? Who will dare to do business with us in the future? What will become of the reputation of our Mishima Islands?!"

"Brother Xu, actually..."

Just as Cheng Suling was about to say something to comfort and comfort her, Lin Changheng interrupted her with a "snap" as he snapped his folding fan shut. His chuckled voice rang out, "Well, here comes the one who will break the deadlock!"

"what?"

The two were immediately drawn to Lin Changheng, and at the same time, they were puzzled and subconsciously followed Lin Changheng's gaze.

There was a vast blue sky, but nothing there...

About three breaths later, they were surprised to see this scene.

A flying boat came hurtling through the air, carrying a group of five cultivators.

Originally flying this way, the ship turned halfway and sped away. Almost instantly, the pursuing, ferocious light came to an abrupt halt, and a headless corpse fell from mid-air. The severed head was caught in the hands of one of the people.

(End of this chapter)