Chapter 36: Chapter 36: Treasure Seed Instantly Formed

In his sea of consciousness, the Primordial Cauldron trembled faintly. Cyan Mist swirled as a new, jade-green Treasure Seed bobbed up and down.

[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Species - Undergoing Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]

[Spirit Stealing: 99/100]

[Utility: Mixed Grade Demon Beast Bloodline. Innately possesses a Wood Attribute and the Lifebound Talents of Disguise, Cage, and Self-Healing. Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one can be chosen to be Refined into.]

"Ahh, that feels good!"

Lin Changheng received the feedback from the Treasure Seed, and a wave of comfort washed over his mind and body.

’I managed to steal ninety-nine points in one go. The Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Species is almost fully formed. Phew, this feels amazing.’

Lin Changheng’s eyes shone with a peculiar light. It was the satisfaction of watching a progress bar instantly fill up—anyone would get lost in such a feeling.

This also meant he could achieve Spirit Stealing Success tonight and gain the enhancement from the Treasure Seed.

This speed was unprecedented, exhilarating and deeply satisfying.

’So, which of the three talents should I choose?’

Lin Changheng began to ponder.

’Disguise... it’s most likely used by the Wood Puppet Fox to camouflage itself in the forest, changing its body color to blend into the environment and evade predators.’

Lin Changheng’s assessment was that it could be useful, but perhaps not a perfect fit for him. He had his doubts.

Besides, he was so cautious, disliked going out, avoided conflict, and was generally amicable with others. He probably wouldn’t have any use for Disguise in the near future.

...

’As for Cage, that should be a talent for control, forming something like a wooden cage to trap predators or prey.’

’It would probably have a miraculous effect when paired with the Wood Element’s Entanglement Skill. A solid candidate.’

’Self-Healing!’

After some deliberation, Lin Changheng’s eyes gleamed. He had made his decision.

The Wood Puppet Fox was of the Wood Element. The Wood Element was associated with continuous growth and vigorous life force, capable of nourishing the body and healing injuries.

It was an excellent means of self-preservation.

’Once the Spirit Stealing is complete and I have Self-Healing... tsk tsk, I’ll feel much more at ease. It’ll give me more confidence to survive in the Cultivation Realm.’

With that thought, Lin Changheng directly retrieved two bottles of raw material Essence Blood, used for Alchemy, from his Storage Bag.

"Absorb!"

He couldn’t wait any longer.

WHOOSH!

[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Species - Undergoing Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

Then, under Lin Changheng’s expectant gaze, a cyan light flashed at the cauldron’s mouth. The solid, jade-green Treasure Seed instantly split into three illusory phantoms.

[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Species - First Layer]

[Choose one Demon Race Lifebound Talent to Refine into: Disguise, Cage, Self-Healing]

"Refine into Self-Healing!"

Lin Changheng resolutely touched the third phantom.

A profound and mysterious aura—a rhythm of the Dao—flowed out from the two abandoned choices and poured into the Self-Healing Treasure Seed.

[Obtained: Self-healing Technique - Peeping Path]

In the next moment, an extremely comfortable sensation washed over him, as if his entire body was soaking in a hot spring. He almost couldn’t help but moan in pleasure.

[Utility: Initially grants self-healing ability, allowing for rapid Repair of minor wounds.]

’I need to test this out and see just how far this initial self-healing ability goes.’

CRACK!

Impatient, Lin Changheng smashed the teacup in his hand, picked up a shard of porcelain, and swiped it directly across the pad of his finger.

A long, narrow cut immediately appeared, and blood gushed from the broken skin.

"Hiss... that actually hurts."

He muttered reflexively. As Lin Changheng focused on the wound, a thought flickered in his mind, and a magical scene unfolded: the cut actually began to close.

The bleeding stopped, the edges of the flesh knitted together, and the opening healed, looking no different from before—except that the new skin over the wound seemed a little more tender.

Fortunately, Lin Changheng was afraid of pain and had no self-harming tendencies; otherwise, he would have definitely tested the limits of this Self-healing Technique...

Meanwhile, Lin Changheng’s Wood Spirit Root had, without him noticing, grown to ten strands. One more step and it would break through to the category of a Lower Grade Spirit Root.

...

「A few days later.」

After seeing Tantai Feiyue off, Lin Changheng turned and saw a gift basket on the stone table.

It was a gift from Tantai Feiyue, but not a celebratory gift for some happy occasion.

Instead, it was because, with the help of the Masterpiece Pills Lin Changheng provided, she had finally broken through to the Fourth Layer of Qi Cultivation.

She had become a Middle Stage Cultivator.

Remembering the source of her success, she had come specially to express her gratitude.

Lin Changheng had wanted to refuse.

Firstly, they were both "Immortal Seedlings" from the same batch, and had later become friends and mutually beneficial allies. Why make a fuss over such a small matter?

Secondly, although he had helped Tantai Feiyue, he had also benefited from the Female Cultivator. Her monthly supply of Pan Mountain Turtle Essence Blood had never been interrupted. It was a mutually beneficial arrangement.

Therefore, he told the Female Cultivator there was no need for this and tried to refuse it.

"Is that so?"

Every move Tantai Feiyue made carried a royal, graceful, and noble air. Sitting in her chair, she raised a teasing eyebrow at Lin Changheng, her starry eyes glinting playfully. "In that case, I will respectfully obey and take the basket back. I just hope Brother Lin won’t..."

At the same time, her slender, fair hand moved as if to take back the basket.

Having heard the first half of her sentence, Lin Changheng refused to be teased. He reached out, gently pushed aside Tantai Feiyue’s slender hand hovering over the basket, and fluidly lifted the brocade cloth covering it.

"Eh?"

Tantai Feiyue’s red lips were moving, her teasing words unfinished, when she saw Lin Changheng go completely off-script. Her starry eyes widened in astonishment, and her high, peak-like bosom heaved dramatically.

Time and again she found herself thwarted by Lin Changheng. She, who in the secular world had been lauded by an emperor’s decree as "supremely intelligent," "magnanimous and unbound by convention," and "a true heroine among women," was now completely at a loss.

Tantai Feiyue had met many remarkable men, but Lin Changheng was one of a kind.

Even she couldn’t figure him out; her past experience in managing people and the methods of the imperial family were completely ineffective against him.

A sense of defeat immediately began to well up inside her.

’Is this... the Cultivation Realm? Or is he just too peculiar?’

However, Lin Changheng hadn’t noticed the fluctuations in the Female Cultivator’s expression at all. His gaze was fixed on the contents of the gift basket.

Inside were twelve full bottles of Talismanic Ink.

Usually, there were only four.

"This amount..."

Only then did Lin Changheng turn his eyes to Tantai Feiyue. A thought occurred to him, and he cupped his hands with a smile. "Fairy, why is there so much extra? Please, do tell."

Seeing his politeness, Tantai Feiyue secretly muttered, ’So forgiving,’ before pursing her red lips and saying, "I helped two Talisman Masters with a small problem last month. So, this is their thank-you gift."

"They’re helping me purchase their allotment of this Talismanic Ink. And yes, it will be like this from now on."

"I’ve troubled you, Fairy."

Lin Changheng’s expression turned serious as he thanked her earnestly.

"Brother Lin, do you want me to repeat the words you just said? To test my memory?"

Tantai Feiyue blinked her starry eyes and smiled.

She was clearly referring to the words Lin Changheng had used to refuse her gift earlier.

Lin Changheng naturally understood. He chuckled and accepted the gift.

...

After the Female Cultivator left, Lin Changheng immediately began Spirit Stealing from the Pan Mountain Turtle Essence Blood.

WHOOSH!

[Pan Mountain Turtle Treasure Species: Undergoing Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]

[Spirit Stealing: 27/100]

"It really is slow."

Even Lin Changheng couldn’t help but complain. Still, it was a small comfort that he would be able to speed things up a bit in the future.

...