Chapter 381 - 251: Shadow Escape, Offering Blood and Seizing a Species

Chapter 381: Chapter 251: Shadow Escape, Offering Blood and Seizing a Species

"Not exactly. I was just trying to find a way to resolve the situation sooner."

Chef Zeng didn’t elaborate, but Lin Changheng could guess the gist of it.

If this clan war dragged on, the damage would be too great.

It wasn’t just the consumption of resources and lives; it would also stagnate their development and sow unrest. The harm to the family would be irreversible.

The only exception would be to emerge as the victor and devour everything the enemy possessed.

Clearly, the Huang Family was incapable of achieving that.

Lin Changheng didn’t press the matter further. Instead, he suddenly asked, "Mr. Zeng, I must admit I’m quite curious. How did someone with your Early Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivation manage to evade two Middle Stage cultivators for so long and make it all the way to Jade Belt Lake?"

How could Chef Zeng not be a clever man?

He immediately slapped his head and said with a laugh, "I was actually planning to give this Escape Technique to you, Brother Lin, as a special thank you for saving my life. It’s the only thing I have that might be of use to you. My Spirit Chef Skills could be considered useful as well, but that’s a family Inheritance, and I’ve sworn a Daoist Oath not to give it away..."

"But I was so focused on healing that it slipped my mind."

As he spoke, he reached into his Storage Bag and pulled out an ancient, grayish-black scroll.

The scroll’s material was neither silk nor paper, and it was covered in archaic patterns that exuded a sense of age and vicissitude.

Its surface was a dull, grayish-black, inscribed with extremely ancient, twisted, and indecipherable runes and lines in some kind of dark gold pigment. These markings didn’t seem to be merely decorative; they faintly formed some sort of profound pattern, emitting a mysterious and obscure aura.

The ends of the scroll were fitted with two small rods made of an unknown metal that had oxidized and blackened, adding to its ancient feel.

"This scroll is called the Shadow Escape Technique, and it records a High Level Magic."

Chef Zeng lowered his voice, holding the scroll in both hands. His face held a smile, yet also a trace of reluctance. "I found it in the belly of a Spirit Fish I was preparing long ago. It’s not an ordinary Five Elements Escape Technique, but rather a rare, secret Escape Technique specializing in rapid, short-distance movement."

"When cultivated to Great Success, it allows one to move like a ghost shadow, evade a fatal blow in an instant, and greatly conceal the fluctuations of the magic, making it extremely difficult to track."

Chef Zeng paused, his tone growing more bitter. "It is precisely because I possess this skill that I was able to escape the enemy clan’s ambushes multiple times. But for that same reason, they became convinced I was carrying a great treasure and pursued me with even more urgency... Bringing such powerful enemies here was truly not my intention."

He offered the scroll with both hands, his posture extremely humble.

Lin Changheng pondered for a moment and did not immediately take the scroll. Instead, he asked, "Have you cultivated this technique?"

Chef Zeng quickly shook his head. "I’ve only had it for three years. The cultivation threshold for this skill seems quite high, with requirements for both Divine Sense and the physical body. This junior has only grasped the basics and can barely use the most elementary Escape Shadow Skill. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have been in such a sorry state."

Lin Changheng nodded slightly. ’If he had cultivated this Escape Technique to Great Success, those two Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators probably couldn’t have touched him.’

"I will accept this scroll for now to study it."

Lin Changheng’s gaze fell upon the scroll. Using his Insight Skill to observe it, he found no special arrangements or hidden tricks.

Only then did he beckon, drawing the scroll toward him with a suction force.

It was heavy in his hand and cool to the touch.

But he didn’t examine it on the spot, instead casually placing it in his Storage Bag.

Lin Changheng flipped his hand over and passed the refined Elixirs to him. "These are the Elixirs your family needs. If there are no issues, you should deliver them quickly. The delay has been several months, so they are likely getting anxious. It’ll be good for you to go back and report that you’re safe."

"Yes! Yes! Thank you, Brother Lin." Chef Zeng carefully put the Elixirs away.

’But... I wonder if those two Middle Stage enemy cultivators are still lying in wait for me somewhere...’

The thought made him anxious.

"Don’t worry about it."

Lin Changheng didn’t say much more. He opened a small gap in the nearby Array and sent Chef Zeng on his way.

But what Chef Zeng hadn’t expected was that over the following period, the immense pressure on the Huang Family would slowly and naturally begin to weaken.

At first, no one noticed.

But as one year, then two, passed, even the most unobservant among them began to sense it.

After a careful investigation, they learned that at some point, three Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the three rival races had completely vanished!

They were suspected to have fallen.

This allowed the entire Huang Family to breathe a sigh of relief, but at the same time, they were bewildered. What could have happened to them?

Or was someone secretly helping the Huang Family?

When Chef Zeng heard this news, he suddenly thought of one person.

It seemed like an impossible conclusion, but it was the only theory... that existed!

That was... Alchemist Lin, Lin Changheng!

He had the motive, the opportunity, and possibly the strength.

When this speculation was shared among the five Foundation Establishment Cultivators of the Huang Family, they were all stunned!

To silently kill three Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators in a row meant that the person in question had likely entered the Late Stage Foundation Establishment realm without anyone knowing.

After some discussion, the truth remained unclear, but they reached a two-point consensus.

First, they would do everything in their power to befriend Alchemist Lin, while strictly forbidding this information from being leaked. This was to protect him and also to respect Alchemist Lin’s dislike for trouble.

Second, since the direct pressure on them had been greatly reduced, they could resume their efforts to acquire Essence Blood, as a gesture of goodwill toward Alchemist Lin.

Reciprocity was the Righteous Dao.

It was only then that the other cultivators of the Huang Family truly understood how brilliant a move their late Grand Elder, Huang Jiuyuan, had made!