Chapter 278 - 202: Generous Reward, Seeking New Blood
Fusheng Lake, Shuiyue Pavilion.
"If you lack confidence in yourself, how can you pursue the Success Pill? How can you ensure your Alchemy Dao continues to improve?"
As the black-haired elder spoke, he tossed a crimson token into Lin Changheng’s hand and said with a smile, "Mr. Lin, I am quite interested in your approach to the Alchemy Dao. It’s worth studying. If you have the chance, you can come discuss the Alchemy Dao with me! I believe you will gain much from it!"
When the crimson token landed in his hand, Lin Changheng found it not icy cold, but warm and gentle to the touch.
His heart stirred, and he immediately held the token and cupped his fists. "Thank you, Elder Kong. If I have the chance in the future, I will definitely come to ask for your guidance!"
"Excellent!"
The black-haired elder smiled at Lin Changheng, then turned to Bai Hengwan. "Miss Heng, since the matter here is concluded, I will take my leave."
As the two watched him go, the black-haired elder took two steps forward, then suddenly turned back with a smile. "On this leg of the journey, it seems you’ve taken the lead!"
"Thank you, Elder Kong!"
Upon hearing this, Bai Hengwan’s lovely eyes shifted slightly as she bowed respectfully to see him off.
"Farewell, Elder Kong."
Lin Changheng also performed the rites of a junior.
However, Lin Changheng detected a strange, hidden meaning in the black-haired elder’s last words.
’On this leg of the journey, taken the lead...’
’Since he said ’lead,’ there must be a comparison. And who could Bai Zhenchuan’s competitor be?’
’And ’this leg of the journey’ implies it’s just one part of a whole. Does that mean there are many such ’legs’? Taken together, it seems to point to some kind of competition!’
’And because of this, Bai Hengwan seems to have gained a slight advantage.’
"Heh, farewell."
The black-haired elder waved his hand and hurriedly departed. With a WHOOSH, an Escape Light flared into existence, streaked across the sky, and vanished from sight.
It left only a long trail in the sky, which slowly dissipated.
’So strong!’
Lin Changheng couldn’t help but be stunned.
Just considering the speed of that Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator’s Escape Light, Lin Changheng knew he couldn’t hope to compare. He was a Cultivator at the Third Layer of Foundation Establishment, with the entire Middle Stage separating them. Each step across that gap was a complete metamorphosis.
’My road is still long, and this world still has many sights to see. I must remain grounded and proceed with a steady pace to experience them all, one by one!’
The last Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator Lin Changheng had interacted with was the Huang Family Branch Ancestor, Huang Family Grand Elder Huang Jiuyuan.
But his lifespan had been nearing its end, so what he projected was not might, but the insight and world-weariness that came with age.
This had given Lin Changheng a somewhat mistaken impression of the true power and might of a Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator.
Now, seeing this display, he knew there was a truly significant gap between them. He was no match. He just wondered what his chances of escape would be if he used every trick he had.
Against a Middle Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivator, however, Lin Changheng was confident he could put up a fight. As for whether he could actually kill them, that was another question entirely.
You couldn’t just assume your opponent’s Cultivation Technique was poor, their Cultivation weak, their Magical Combat skills lacking, or their ability to escape deficient. That would be deceiving yourself. The true outcome could only be known through a direct clash in Magical Combat.
All Lin Changheng could do was focus on improving himself and avoid conflict whenever possible. If he encountered an enemy he had to kill, he would kill them. If he couldn’t win, he would shield his companions or even turn tail and run.
For him, these contingencies came with no psychological burden.
...
"Elder Kong is indeed very strong. My master once told me that he had a good chance of reaching Core Formation, or at the very least, forming a Fake Core. It’s just that Elder Kong wasn’t satisfied with that. Later, he was ambushed by an enemy and suffered heavy injuries, which severed his chance at Core Formation."
"He has spent all these years recuperating and accumulating power. Perhaps he might still have a chance at Core Formation in the future; it’s hard to say. After all, his Alchemy Dao is very strong, approaching Tier Three."
Bai Hengwan was in a rather good mood. The facts had proven that her seemingly risky choice of Lin Changheng had been the right one. Naturally, she was willing to share some information, sending her words via voice transmission.
Besides, these matters weren’t exactly secrets. In the core of the Immortal City, and even among many Late Stage Foundation Establishment Cultivators from the Outer World, some of this was known.
Furthermore, Elder Kong had a good impression of and attitude towards Lin Changheng, and he himself didn’t really care about these things, so there was no harm in her speaking of them.
This would also serve as a helpful tip for Lin Changheng, making it easier for him to interact with Elder Kong in the future.
"Thank you for telling me, Bai Zhenchuan."
Lin Changheng said solemnly, immediately assuring her that the words had gone from her mouth to his ears and would go no further.
Bai Hengwan nodded. She naturally didn’t offer any further explanation, instead taking the initiative to bring up the matter of his payment.
"Payment?"
Lin Changheng’s curiosity was piqued.
"We have prepared a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemy Inheritance and a Tier Two Middle Grade Pill Furnace as a gift for completing the task. I wonder if Alchemist Lin is satisfied?"
Bai Hengwan smiled faintly and laid out the list of gifts.
"Oh?"
Lin Changheng was taken aback for a moment, then became overjoyed.
No wonder Bai Zhenchuan had described it as a "generous gift." It was indeed... truly generous!
The price of a Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemy Inheritance was generally around eight or nine thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.
The problem was, while it had a price... no one was selling.
It was very rare for a seller to appear. Powerful Alchemy Clans wouldn’t sell their inheritance for a mere few Spirit Stones. And unless such clans encountered a great disaster, they wouldn’t easily decline, as the legacy of their ancestors could support them for a long time.
Fortunately, the river of time is long enough that many Alchemy Clans still fell into decline, allowing some Tier Two Upper Grade Alchemy Inheritances to flow into the market. Once purchased by a Cultivator or a family, they would never appear again.
Some people even released flawed versions. Because the Alchemy Dao is inherently obscure, it was normal not to understand it. Cultivators would be completely unable to spot the errors, and upon studying it, they would end up subverting their own Alchemy Dao instead.
This led to a situation where, unless it was a genuine article confirmed by an auction house or a seller with a stellar reputation, no one dared to even touch the inheritances found elsewhere.
The one the Immortal City possessed had been obtained from a ruined Alchemy Clan long ago and had been kept in its collection ever since, guarded with extreme secrecy.