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

Chapter 43 The situation worsens

For the next month, Lin Changheng's life remained largely unchanged, except that he took some time to comprehend the "Secret Notes of the Taihe Danjuan".

However, besides being shrouded in the shadow of war, rumors were slowly circulating within the Xu family.

That was the apprentice who had been tending the fire for twelve years. Not only did he advance to the next level in one fell swoop, but he also defeated the renowned Alchemist Lü and won the inheritance of a mid-grade alchemy. He is expected to become a first-grade mid-grade alchemist!
Not long after, Master Lü came out and frankly admitted that he was inferior to Lin Changheng in skill, that Lin Changheng was exceptionally talented and a late bloomer, and that he was not as good as him.

He was quite composed, showing none of the grudge or furious expression one might have seen in the novels of his previous life.

But no one knew that all of this was deliberately orchestrated by Lü Bailian. Losing to a fool would be shameful, but by elevating Lin Changheng to the status of a "genius," even if he lost, it wouldn't affect his reputation. Instead, he would leave behind a reputation for being magnanimous and humble.

……

This news was delivered by Xu Fugui.

Lin Changheng frowned repeatedly; he did not want to appear in the public eye and in the midst of discussions.

For someone like him who adheres to a conservative and cautious approach, excessive exposure is where the crisis lies.

So he asked Xu Fugui to do something for him.

"What is it? Brother Lin, just tell me what you need, and I will not hesitate or compromise in the slightest."

Xu Fugui's injuries had mostly healed, and he could move and walk normally, but it was best not to engage in magical combat. He immediately patted his chest and assured them.

"It's very simple..."

Lin Changheng didn't know where the leak came from, but even if he knew the source, it wouldn't be of any use, so he simply asked Xu Fugui to spread some rumors.

Stir the water to make it muddy.

They said that Lin Changheng only narrowly won by one point that day, and that it was only through a series of coincidences that he defeated the well-known Master Lü!

As for "coincidence," the more mysterious the better.
For example, when Master Lü was refining his first batch of pills, he was originally supposed to produce two high-quality pills, both of which were already formed. However, a black bird cried out outside the window, attracting him with its rich and mellow aroma. But the bird's cry startled Master Lü, causing him to lose his composure and thus fail by one point.

Or perhaps, alchemist Lü was of noble character. Lin Changheng was exhausted while refining the pill and almost suffered a backlash. It was alchemist Lü who decisively intervened to save him, which inadvertently caused the pill to be completed and led to his defeat.

Such things are mysterious and eye-catching enough!

That very day, Xu Fugui had his wife and children join in, with the whole family of more than ten spreading the word through visiting friends, relatives, and neighbors, and it became increasingly mysterious.

After some fermentation, the creativity of the people in the clan was also developed, and they even made up stories of love and hate between the two, which eventually turned them against each other and became the fuse for the struggle for the inheritance of the middle-grade alchemy.

In the end, no one cared about the truth anymore. Different versions were developed and circulated, with Lu Danshi being the most talked about and once again becoming the focus of attention.

Lin Changheng, on the other hand, became a minor supporting character, lacking any dramatic moments, and was naturally forgotten.

It is worth mentioning that in the middle of this month, Xu Xuheng, the head of the Xu family, summoned him and said some polite words that were mainly about encouragement, expectations, and winning him over.

Lin Changheng looked flattered and put the matter out of his mind after leaving.

He understood that in such meetings, people would naturally say the nicest things, and whoever took it seriously or took it to heart would lose.

……

Not a few days.

Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui were taking a leisurely stroll along the Blackwater River.

Suddenly, the sound of rapid hoofbeats came from the opposite bank of the river.

The two were startled and immediately looked around, where they saw a group of about a dozen people approaching, raising clouds of dust, before crossing the river.

Fortunately, the two of them clearly saw that the leader was Xu Qianhuan, who was at the eighth level of Qi Refining; otherwise, they would have already tacitly agreed to turn around and run away.

"I've met senior."

The crossing was quick, and the two bowed to each other.

"Ah."

Xu Qianhuan's serious expression relaxed, it was unclear whether this was directed at the two individuals or simply because they had arrived at the family's residence. He then ordered, "Rest and recuperate, send the wounded back, and request a physician to come to your home."

Medical skills are also one of the many arts of cultivating immortality.

Although physicians are not as popular as alchemists, weapon masters, array masters, and talisman masters, they are still an indispensable part of the clan.

"Yes."

The cultivators behind them immediately dispersed, and only then did Lin Changheng and his companion realize that someone was carrying the wounded.

"Old Bai?"

Xu Fugui suddenly cried out in surprise.

The "Old Bai" that Xu Fugui mentioned was naturally Bai Fengxian. Lin Changheng was also startled and looked in the direction of the gaze. He saw a person being carried on his back, half of his face was covered in blood and flesh, as if he had been burned into a ball by flames. He looked vaguely familiar.

In addition, their body shapes are quite similar...

"Old Bai, are you alright?"

The two immediately moved closer, unable to bear to look.

Bai Feng first heard two familiar voices, struggled to open his eyes, and forced a smile onto his distorted face, saying, "I'm not dead yet. Luckily, I'm quick, and I was only grazed in the face by a fireball spell."

It sounds easy, but the danger and horror involved are unimaginable.

"Let's go!"

Lin Changheng and Xu Fugui helped each other up, lifted the unfamiliar monk off his back, placed him on a board, and carried him away in a flash.

Until evening.

After seeing the doctor off, Bai Fengxian's wife finally felt relieved. She wiped away her tears and went to prepare the meal.

Although Bai Fengxian, who was leaning against the bed, was disfigured, he was in relatively good condition. Looking at the two men in front of him with gloomy expressions, he still smiled and said, "What's wrong? Still lamenting my handsome face?"

"Tsk tsk, it seems this fireball technique hasn't subdued your mouth yet!" Xu Fugui's expression relaxed slightly, and he smiled.

Lin Changheng smiled and then suddenly asked in a low voice, "Did you go to take revenge on the Chen family?"

"How did you know, Brother Lin?"

Bai Feng was taken aback for a moment, then his scabbed wound twitched, and his expression became even more ferocious.

Lin Changheng smiled and uttered two words, "Just guessing."

Xu Fugui scratched his head, looking at Lin Changheng with a completely bewildered expression, clearly not understanding what was going on.

Lin Changheng had no choice but to explain, "Judging from your appearance, you've clearly been through a major battle. But given the dire situation the Xu family is in, they certainly wouldn't be so reckless as to launch a multi-front war. There's only one answer..."

"The Chen family!"

In fact, Lin Changheng had more evidence, such as the death of the mid-grade alchemist Xu Hanli, the attack on Black Dragon Pond, and the opening of the alchemist's secret teachings, all of which pointed to this, but he did not want to talk about it to outsiders.

Sometimes, knowing more isn't necessarily a good thing.

"Brother Lin is indeed quick-witted and has a prophetic mind."

Bai Feng sighed first, then whispered a few words.

Combined with the information Lin Changheng knew, the basic outline was deduced.

Their attack was likely retaliation for the Chen family's attack on Black Dragon Pond and the killing of a mid-grade alchemist. They then sent men to attack two resource points in the same way, killing seven or eight cultivators and plundering a batch of resources.

Most importantly, a mid-level talisman master was beheaded as retaliation.

(End of this chapter)