Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Transformative True Core

"A ten-year-old spirit plant, once imbued, yields a [Mortal Filth Bloodline]. A fifty-year-old one yields a [Muddy Evil Bloodline]. And a hundred-year-old one yields a [Profound Spirit Bloodline]..."

"These aren’t arbitrary classifications. Long ago, a Great Power possessing Tier Five Spirit Plant Skill and Tier Four Alchemy Skill spent a thousand years wandering the mountains and wilds. They captured and studied nearly a hundred Mountain and Marsh Spirits to establish these facts. Aside from a few exceptions, this system is almost always correct."

The young woman clasped her hands behind her back, pacing as she spoke.

"This Cultivation Realm is truly profound and fascinating."

Lin Changheng felt like his horizons had been broadened. ’More useful knowledge,’ he thought, inwardly delighted.

The young woman from the Liu Family covered her mouth with a light chuckle. "As it happens, my family possesses two [Lantern Grass Essences]. They were both transformed at the same time after being imbued with the world’s Spiritual Mechanism, which is quite a rare occurrence. Their regenerative abilities are exceptionally strong, allowing them to provide a large supply of Essence Blood."

’Chives?’

The word popped into Lin Changheng’s head. ’You can just harvest them again and again?’

The woman, however, was quite candid, seemingly extending a gesture of goodwill to Lin Changheng. She stated plainly that as long as they were well-nourished, one portion of Essence Blood could be harvested from each spirit every three days.

Exceeding that rate would damage their fundamental essence—it would be like killing the goose that lays the golden eggs.

Lin Changheng nodded, quickly doing the math. The two [Lantern Grass Essences] could yield a total of just over two hundred and forty portions of Essence Blood per year.

’That’s quite a lot.’

So he said, "As I am exploring the Alchemy Dao, my needs are great and I consume a lot of resources. Of course, the more, the better."

The linen-clad old man interjected at the opportune moment. "Aside from our family’s internal consumption, we have an allotment of about two hundred portions per year that we can provide to Mr. Lin. I wonder if that would be sufficient?"

"That will certainly be enough. Thank you, Senior, and thank you, Fairy."

"However, business is business, so let me be blunt. Our family’s Essence Blood has established supply chains that have been in place for years. We would be giving you priority supply each year, Mr. Lin, so we would require a contract for at least five years. Otherwise, it would be difficult for us to suddenly seek out new channels."

The linen-clad old man, his expression serious, wanted to lock him into a direct sale of a five-year supply. Seeing this, Lin Changheng knew there was little room for negotiation. But he didn’t mind; he could definitely make use of a thousand portions of Essence Blood over five years.

Nevertheless, he put on a conflicted expression, looking as if he were hesitating. After a long moment, as though he had just fought a great internal battle, he gritted his teeth and accepted. "Five years, then!"

The linen-clad old man, feeling his plan had succeeded, gave a small, self-satisfied smile inwardly. His goal was achieved, yet his outward expression remained as serious and "strictly business" as before.

As if he hadn’t seen a thing, Lin Changheng changed the subject. "I wonder, Senior, do you have any [Lantern Grass Essence] Essence Blood on you? May I have a look?"

"As it happens, I have some."

The linen-clad old man walked over to the table. With a sweep of his hand, a bottle of pale green Essence Blood, shimmering with a silvery light within, appeared before him. His spirits clearly lifted as he spoke,

"If you are in urgent need, Fellow Daoist, I happen to have thirty-some portions on me that I can part with to solve your immediate problem."

Lin Changheng stepped forward to inspect it. Dabbing a single drop onto his finger, he felt his Sea of Consciousness Primordial Cauldron tremble slightly in response.

This confirmed that the Demon Beast Essence Blood was authentic and that he could absorb it. He flicked the drop back into the bottle and said with a smile, "I’ll take them all."

"The market price is typically three Lower Grade Spirit Stones per portion. However, our Liu Family feels an affinity with you, Fellow Daoist, and as a gesture of goodwill, we’ll give you a twenty percent discount. All future transactions will be at this price as well."

"Thank you."

"If you were to visit our family in the future, Mr. Lin, we could discuss the price in more detail. Gifting some to you wouldn’t be out of the question, either."

At this point, the linen-clad old man’s intention to recruit him was plain to see.

But Lin Changheng didn’t take the bait.

For one, he had no intention of switching his allegiance; he was treated well by the Xu Family and felt quite comfortable there.

For another, every free gift comes with a hidden price tag. He wasn’t familiar with the Liu Family and wasn’t about to rush in blindly.

They exchanged a few more pleasantries, signed the contract, and the meeting concluded.

As Lin Changheng walked out of the small reception courtyard, he saw that the Xu Family’s Steward in charge of hosting had a wider smile on his face. The man’s attitude toward him had become noticeably warmer.

The Steward had come on a mission from the family’s upper echelons. Having just witnessed Lin Changheng refuse the Liu Family’s recruitment attempt, he was moved.

’This young man is truly loyal. The family didn’t make a mistake in nurturing him!’

They parted ways, and Lin Changheng headed straight for his own courtyard.

Looking at the thirty-two bottles of strange Demon Blood before him, Lin Changheng uncorked one. A pungent, grassy aroma of blood immediately filled his nostrils.

Unlike the purely metallic tang of ordinary Demon Beast Essence Blood, the blood of these Mountain and Marsh Spirits carried an herbal note—that was what made it unique.

"Metamorphosis!"

Lin Changheng poured the Essence Blood into a basin and began the process in a single, fluid motion.

HUMMM!

[Cyan Wood Snake Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Metamorphosis: 10/10]

...

[Essence Blood Full, Metamorphosis Success!]

[Cyan Wood Snake True Core: Supreme]

[Can be Refined into Demon Beast Bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique: Poison Transformation]

Above the mouth of the Primordial Cauldron, a green True Core the size of an infant’s fist solidified. At a command from Lin Changheng’s will, it floated out gracefully and bored into his Divine Soul.

At the same time, a stream of pure, spiritual energy entered his body, roaming and rushing through him.

’What is this?’

Lin Changheng let it circulate within him. Before long, a strange, utterly foul odor began to seep from his pores.

Finding the stench unbearable, he ran into the courtyard to draw water and wash himself.

He had to rinse himself five or six times before the smell finally faded.

But just as he finished putting his robes back on, a chaotic rumbling echoed from his abdomen, like the beating of war drums, followed by a sharp, intense pain.

About ten minutes later, Lin Changheng finally emerged from the latrine, practically holding onto the wall for support. He had expelled a large amount of foul-smelling, blackish-red blood!

His body was also covered in a layer of black, stinking sweat.

After bathing once more, he felt utterly refreshed. His body felt cool, as if a great weight had been lifted. His blood pumped vigorously, and even the circulation of his Magical Power felt a fraction faster.

’Poison Transformation! It dissolves and expels all the accumulated residual toxins and impurities in the body! This has to be an innate effect of the [Poison Transformation Demon Technique]!’

’I never realized so much filth and so many toxins were hiding inside my body. I wonder what kind of obstacles they were creating for my lifespan and my Cultivation! Now my body feels so light and agile... what a blessing!’

Lin Changheng immediately focused his mind and turned his senses inward with Introspection. He saw that the stream of pure spiritual energy, which had been darting through his body like a dragon, suddenly disintegrated right before his inner eye.

It scattered throughout his limbs and bones.

It also merged into his blood and Magical Power, leaving no trace behind.

But he had a distinct intuition: he was now immune to Tier One Poison Medicine!

Lin Changheng took out a bottle of Middle Grade Poison Medicine he had acquired previously. He placed three drops in his palm and let them spread, watching as a cloud of Poisonous Smoke rose up.

With a mere thought, he activated the [Poison Transformation Demon Technique]. The technique swept over the Poisonous Smoke, which instantly dissolved like spring snow under a scorching sun!

It had been completely neutralized and dissipated by his Magical Power!

But that wasn’t enough.

Lin Changheng then took out a Wasted Pill from a previous attempt at refining a Middle Grade [Water Ganoderma Pill] and used the technique on it.

The Demon Technique manifested as a current of energy that swept over the pill!

In an instant, the deeply ingrained and stubborn Pill Poison within it was neutralized.

All that remained was a Wasted Pill that smelled burnt, yet still carried the faint medicinal aroma of herbs.

After careful inspection, he determined that aside from its appearance—still a black, mushy lump—it was now completely harmless to ingest!