Chapter 368 - 244: A Gift from Elder Kong and Two Secret Matters

Chapter 368: Chapter 244: A Gift from Elder Kong and Two Secret Matters

The difficulty of Body Refining would continuously increase with each level, but this process could be accelerated by supplementing with resources.

...

「Half an hour later.」

Lin Changheng and Bai Hengwan left together, boarding the Dharma Ship she summoned and flying away from Furnace Spirit Island.

On one hand, the Inner Lake’s defenses were formidable and its Arrays were strict. It would have been inconvenient for Lin Changheng to blunder about blindly, so he needed an escort.

On the other hand, the two of them also had other matters to discuss.

Before the incident with Elder Kong, Lin Changheng had already sent a Communication Jade Talisman, which Bai Hengwan had received.

The journey was uneventful. The two stood quietly at the bow and stern respectively, only making some simple conversation without getting into a deep discussion.

Not until they arrived back at the Shuiyue Pavilion.

Before Lin Changheng could even speak, Bai Hengwan flicked her hand, and a string of vials containing a mixture of green and blue Essence Blood flew out.

It was none other than the Essence Blood of the Cyan Rain Mist Toad.

There were over a hundred vials in total.

"Thank you."

Lin Changheng flicked his sleeve, using his Magical Power to draw all the Essence Blood into his Storage Bag before clasping his hands in a salute toward Bai Zhenchuan.

’This woman is truly efficient, more so than I ever expected.’

He had originally prepared a few arguments, but now they were all useless.

"When I first heard you were planning to move, Mr. Lin, I was rather astonished..."

Bai Hengwan finally spoke.

"The Immortal City is wonderful, but my residence is a bit cramped. I also raise several Spirit Beasts, so it’s truly difficult to find enough space."

Lin Changheng revealed a smile. "But the new location isn’t far, just three thousand miles away. I can travel back and forth in no time."

Bai Hengwan remained noncommittal. She asked for the location of Lin Changheng’s new residence, and after noting it down, they bid each other farewell.

During their conversation, Bai Hengwan once again revealed some information, but only hinted at it.

After Lin Changheng pieced together the clues through his own reasoning, he arrived at the truth.

The Cyan Rain Mist Toad Essence Blood that Lin Changheng needed was only obtainable because of the Cyan Glaze Flood Dragon.

The reason was that the Cyan Glaze Flood Dragon loved to eat the internal organs of the Cyan Rain Mist Toad, which also benefited its Cultivation. For the sake of his own Spirit Beast, the Qing Lan Wanderer specifically had people risk venturing deep into the Wilderness to hunt this toad, a practice that continued year after year.

’So that’s how it is.’

This was the reason there was a never-ending supply of Tier Two Cyan Rain Mist Toad Essence Blood.

In that case, he no longer needed to worry about the Essence Blood running out.

...

"It should be a few more days before the Flood Dragon Blood Fruit is delivered. Mr. Lin, you might as well wait a little longer."

Bai Hengwan suddenly spoke up, offering a reminder.

"I understand."

Lin Changheng had reached the door. Hearing her words, he smiled, turned back, and clasped his hands in salute.

Then, his entire body shot into the air, transforming into a streak of cyan light that whistled through the sky and vanished.

...

The following days were spent waiting.

He had to wait for the Flood Dragon Blood Fruit promised by Elder Kong, as well as for news from the Bixiao Sect Steward about the East Wheel Willow Wood.

Neither of these things could be rushed.

Acknowledging this, Lin Changheng settled in to wait patiently.

The first thing he did upon returning was to perform Spirit Stealing on the hundred portions of Cyan Rain Mist Toad Essence Blood he had just obtained.

He prepared the Essence Blood and, without a word, communicated with the Primordial Cauldron with his mind as he swept his hand over the vials.

As the Essence Blood of the Cyan Rain Mist Toad was drawn out, the Spirit Stealing progress soared.

[Cyan Rain Mist Toad Treasure Seed: Third Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

...

The twin blue and turquoise Treasure Seed trembled, now fully formed. When Lin Changheng touched it, information flowed back to him.

[Cyan Rain Mist Toad Treasure Seed: Fourth Layer]

[Can continue to Refine into Demon Race Lifebound Talent: Hallucination]

His Divine Soul was instantly cleansed as the Treasure Seed merged into his body.

[Acquired: Hallucinogenic Technique: Ascension]

The Abnormal Technique mastered by Lin Changheng had once again advanced.

Lin Changheng went straight into his courtyard and had the Deep Lake Spirit Clam stir up water vapor. In an instant, the courtyard was filled with a dense mist.

It was as if a light rain had started to fall.

The Abnormal Technique could now be used.

And from what he could feel, compared to the previous stage of Hallucinogenic Technique: Tongming, this upgrade was a significant leap forward.

At the Ascension realm, casting the Hallucination no longer relied on forcefully distorting the target’s five senses. Instead, it leaned toward inducing and amplifying the target’s existing emotions, memories, and desires to weave an Illusion Realm of near-perfect realism.

Everything within the Illusion Realm was logically consistent and perfectly detailed. It was like an extension of the real world or a projection of one’s deepest desires and fears, making it extremely difficult to detect and break.

However, the Hallucination’s area of effect was still limited to a single target and had not expanded to affect multiple people.

Lin Changheng slowly opened his eyes. As the Abnormal Technique surged, countless hazy, dreamlike colors seemed to flow endlessly before quickly fading away.

With a slight shift in his thoughts, a wisp of nearly invisible, faint mist coiled around his fingertip, and the surrounding light seemed to subtly distort along with it.

’Hallucinogenic Technique: Ascension... it’s truly Mysterious.’

He felt a flicker of joy. ’Once this Skill is unleashed, even a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator with a weak will or an unconsolidated Divine Soul would likely fall for it.’

Therefore, he was even more excited for the Fifth Layer of this technique, and even its Metamorphosis.

The only pity was that the misty screen created by Xiaobai had a limited range. A Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator would notice it and could dash out with a burst of speed. Otherwise, he could have created the necessary misty conditions for the Abnormal Technique himself.

...

Time passed quickly.

「Half a month later,」 a messenger from the Immortal Lake arrived, bringing the Flood Dragon Blood Fruit that Lin Changheng had long desired.

They were packed in a Cold Jade Box.

Each was the size of a fist, mottled red and white. They had a white base dotted with red spots, and there were nine of them in total!

’That’s enough.’

Lin Changheng gave them a quick inspection. After confirming there were no issues, a smile appeared on his face.

These Flood Dragon Blood Fruits were enough to support his Cultivation to the Peak of Tier Two Late Stage Body Refining. Even if their effects diminished with consecutive use, it would still be sufficient.

He began to ask about the price in Spirit Stones.

The answer he received, however, was a forty percent discount.

"Forty percent off?" Lin Changheng was taken aback.

"It’s a discount Elder Kong personally instructed us to give you."

This messenger was different from the last one, clearly much more respectful.

"When you report back, please thank Elder Kong for me."

Lin Changheng said with a smile as he paid the Spirit Stones.

That single instruction from Elder Kong had saved him at least twelve thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

He was at a critical juncture where he needed Spirit Stones, so any savings were welcome.

He had to admit, Elder Kong was far wealthier than he was. A Peak of Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, a Quasi-Tier Three Alchemist, a member of the Immortal City’s core, and someone who had operated for many years—the gap between Lin Changheng’s financial resources and his was plain to see.

"I will certainly pass on your words, Alchemist Lin."

The messenger replied with a smile and took his leave.

Lin Changheng immediately consumed one and began to slowly refine it.

This was a slow, patient effort. It couldn’t be rushed, but it also couldn’t be neglected.

...

「More than ten days passed.」

Lin Changheng received a Communication Jade Talisman from Talisman Master Chu.

He immediately dropped what he was doing and flew off.

"Mr. Lin, I’m not sure what you think about this?"

Talisman Master Chu greeted Lin Changheng at the door right away, an embarrassed expression on his face.

"This has nothing to do with you, Mr. Chu."

Lin Changheng accepted the Spirit Tea the other man offered and shook his head. "However, Fellow Daoist, do you think what the other party said is true or false?"

"It’s hard to say. It’s possible the Bixiao Sect is indeed cracking down on the private sale of Spirit Wood, but it’s also possible the other party is just using it as an excuse to raise the price."

Talisman Master Chu said thoughtfully, then added, "Besides, I haven’t heard any rumors from the Bixiao Sect about this."

"Raising the price isn’t out of the question, but such an outrageous demand is going too far. It’s as if they’re certain I’ll take the bait. In that case, there’s no need to continue negotiations."

Where in the world does one find prices that double at the drop of a hat? Whatever the reason, this deal was dead.

Lin Changheng clearly had no intention of being manipulated by this person. ’Do they really take me for a sucker?’

After stating his position in a calm voice, Lin Changheng also got up to leave.

"What a pity, what a pity... Take care, Mr. Lin."

Talisman Master Chu saw Lin Changheng out.

"By the way, you can speed up your collection of materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill a little."

Lin Changheng offered this reminder before whistling away through the air.