Chapter 58: Chapter 58: Two Years in a Flash

Lin Changheng submerged his consciousness into his spiritual sea and looked toward the former location of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed.

It was completely empty.

There was no trace of any Treasure Seed or Dao Fruit.

Just as it had been at the very beginning.

’I wonder if this empty slot can be used to Spirit Steal a Mortal Filth Bloodline again?’

With a thought, Lin Changheng pulled a pile of dark green blood bottles from his Storage Bag.

They were filled with the Essence Blood of the White Spirit Sparrow.

He had purchased them from the Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion last time, but he had first performed Spirit Stealing on the Earth Fire Lizard and had no open slots left to continue.

Now that a slot had been freed up, it was worth a try.

A moment later.

The White Spirit Sparrow Essence Blood in his hand merely trembled slightly, its volume unchanged.

’It didn’t work?’

Lin Changheng’s brow furrowed.

This was completely different from what he had predicted, a result he hadn’t anticipated at all.

’Could it be... this empty slot was wasted just like that?’

His heart sinking slightly, Lin Changheng reversed his hand and retrieved the Flame-tailed Spirit Fox Essence Blood from his Storage Bag.

He still had over ten bottles remaining.

’Now that the Fire Crow Dao Fruit’s Metamorphosis is complete, this is the moment I’ll find out if I can perform Spirit Stealing on a higher-level Essence Blood.’

Communicating with the Primordial Cauldron through his thoughts, he dipped his fingers into the remaining Essence Blood.

SWOOSH!

He saw only a flash of cyan mist, and the Essence Blood before him vanished completely.

’Success?’

The gloom swept from Lin Changheng’s face, replaced by delighted surprise. He immediately looked toward the mouth of the Primordial Cauldron.

And there, in a circle further inward, the phantom of a rose-pink Treasure Seed, a third larger than the others, slowly materialized.

’It really worked! I can perform Spirit Stealing on a Muddy Evil Bloodline! This means I can absorb even higher-level Essence Bloods in the future!’

Then, another change occurred.

Under his slightly widened gaze, this new seed, as if drawn by some force, floated over to the previous position of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed and began to spin rapidly.

Now, the five Treasure Seeds in the outermost circle of the tripod mouth were complete once more.

’The slot wasn’t wasted!’

’It just means I can no longer perform Spirit Stealing on Mortal Filth Bloodlines. It’s like an upgrade.’

’From now on, I can only perform Spirit Stealing on Muddy Evil Bloodlines or higher!’

’In other words, I can perform Spirit Stealing on a maximum of five types of Mortal Filth Bloodline Treasure Seeds. Each time one successfully undergoes Metamorphosis, it vacates its Species Position, making way for a higher-level Muddy Evil Bloodline.’

’If the Muddy Evil Bloodline also comes with five Species Positions, then in the best-case scenario, I can gain an additional five.’

’That makes ten in total.’

’If my speculation is correct, I can even extrapolate that the Profound Spirit Bloodline after that could have a maximum of fifteen Species Positions...’

This was by no means a small number, and Lin Changheng instantly breathed a sigh of relief.

If each level of bloodline only offered five Species Positions, it wouldn’t be nearly enough.

It was always better to have some leeway.

Besides, as Lin Changheng’s Cultivation grew stronger in the future, the Demon Beasts and Demon Blood he encountered would inevitably be more varied, higher-level, and more powerful.

This also meant that he would have the chance to master more Divine Abilities!

When it came to adding Divine Abilities to his repertoire, Lin Changheng would never think he had too many!

...

Next, Lin Changheng received feedback from the new Treasure Seed.

[Flame-tailed Spirit Fox Treasure Seed: Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis in Progress]

[Spirit Stealing: 6/100]

[Utility: Possesses a Muddy Evil Bloodline, Innate Fire Attribute, and the Celestial Gift of Charming. Bears the Lifebound Talents: Illusionary Transformation, Heart-Burning Fox Fire, and Flame Tail Shield Transformation. Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one can be chosen to be Refined into oneself.]

’Three Lifebound Talents again! But they seem much more profound and powerful than those from Mortal Filth Demon Beasts like the Fire Crow or Cyan Wood Snake.’

Lin Changheng’s consciousness withdrew from observing the Treasure Seed, and he began to feel conflicted.

He had a need for this fox’s Illusionary Transformation Talent; with it, he would no longer have to rely on a Human Skin Mask and a constantly worn bamboo hat whenever he went out.

At the same time, he was curious about the Heart-Burning Fox Fire. Was it an innate flame from the Fox Race, or some kind of effect? It wasn’t clear.

As for Flame Tail Shield Transformation, it was obviously a defensive method, and its applications were quite broad.

Weighed down by indecision, he couldn’t reach a conclusion.

’In any case, I don’t have enough Essence Blood right now to achieve Spirit Stealing Success and turn it into a First Layer Treasure Seed. I’ll just have to wait and see.’

’Perhaps by then, my mindset will be different or the situation will have changed, and the choice will become clear.’

Lin Changheng quickly came to terms with it, shaking his head with a smile.

Now in high spirits, he went into the courtyard to drink alone under the moon.

At the very least, Lin Changheng now had a better grasp of the future potential of his greatest reliance in this perilous and chaotic Cultivation Realm—the Primordial Cauldron.

Its abilities wouldn’t just come to an abrupt halt; there was more to come. If not, his situation would have been dire.

Although he seemed to be doing well in the Xu Family—possessing status, Skills, and Spirit Stones—he knew he could never truly integrate.

A natural barrier existed between them.

It was simply that their interests were aligned and their paths temporarily converged, without major disagreements.

It was like being a tenant or a lodger; after a few peaceful days, it would be utterly foolish to start thinking of himself as the master of the house.

When a conflict of interest arose, this fragile peace would be torn apart. To what extent, however, was hard to say.

Would they part amicably, or would they turn on each other and cross blades?

Lin Changheng felt that he himself wouldn’t be too ruthless, but his actions would depend on how far the Xu Family was willing to go.

"Repay kindness with kindness, and grievance with justice"—this had been his code of conduct even in his past life.

He looked up at the pitch-black night sky, understanding in his heart:

’My future path... will most likely be a solitary one!’

The loneliness of the Immortal Dao was no empty saying.

...

「The stars turned, and two more years slipped away.」

「Xu Family’s Hundred Refinements Hall.」

Outside a certain Alchemy Room, a dense crowd of more than ten people stood waiting, their auras anything but ordinary.

This was due either to the astonishing Spiritual Pressure that came from profound Cultivation, or the powerful presence cultivated by years in high positions.

This was especially true of the three people standing at the very front. The one in the center was none other than the Xu Family Patriarch, Xu Xuhe.

His once-commanding middle-aged face now bore several deep lines, etched by hardship.

One could imagine that steering the Qi Cultivation-level Xu Family through these years of great expansion had not been easy.

A single misstep in judgment could have led to a fate like the Chen Family’s—utter and irreversible ruin.

Flanking him on the left and right were the Chief Alchemist in charge of all pill-related matters, Xu Qianyan, and a cool, aloof Female Cultivator wearing a light purple dress with her face veiled by thin gauze.

It was, of course, the Xu Family’s young miss, Xu Hanji.

A few years had passed, and the girlishness about her had faded. The profile of her face, half-hidden by gauze, was as delicate as jade porcelain, yet it possessed a hazy, suggestive beauty, like distant mountains shrouded in mist.

This only added to her cool, otherworldly aura.

Behind them were other high-ranking clan members and Pill Masters.

All of them faced the Alchemy Room, seemingly gathered to wait for something.

CREAK.

With a soft sound, the door opened. A Male Cultivator in a green robe walked out of the Alchemy Room, followed by another Pill Master holding a tray.

The green-robed Male Cultivator stood as straight as a pine before the crowd, a faint smile on his lips as his gaze swept over them. The Pill Master behind him, however, did not stop, circling around to present the tray to Xu Qianyan.

When she saw Lin Changheng’s gaze fall upon her, Xu Hanji gave a slight nod. Lin Changheng returned it with a smile of his own.

"How is it?"

Seeing Xu Qianyan finish his inspection and put down the Pill Bottle, Patriarch Xu Xuhe asked.

"The pills are indeed Middle Grade. Congratulations, Alchemist Lin. And congratulations to our clan. As of today, we have another Middle Grade Alchemist among us!"

Xu Qianyan gave Lin Changheng an appreciative look, stroking his beard and laughing heartily as he delivered the verdict.