Free Web NovelChapter 104: Chapter 104: Obtaining a Demon Technique Again
But in reality, over the past four-plus years, the number of Spirit Stones and the value of other liquidatable items in Lin Changheng’s Storage Bag had surged. Even after considerable expenses, his wealth was already approaching the five-thousand-stone mark.
Even if he took an unexpected loss on this venture, it would hardly be a crippling blow.
Lin Changheng’s motive was to use the act of lending and repayment to strengthen his connection with Mo Zhaoli.
They had already established a bond of favor, but they still lacked regular interaction.
Relying on written correspondence alone was too tenuous; he needed to add more weight to their connection.
Lending Spirit Stones was an excellent way to start. freeweɓnovel.cøm
Moreover, Mo Zhaoli needed Spirit Stones for her Foundation Establishment. Bringing it up now was providing timely aid, which was always far more effective than adding to an already good situation.
Once she achieved Foundation Establishment, never mind a mere three hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones—even three thousand would likely fail to produce half the effect of this gesture.
After just a few such exchanges, Lin Changheng could naturally make his request, steering the conversation toward Demon Beast Essence Blood.
Then, he would have another excellent channel for acquiring higher-level Essence Blood.
...
However, events unfolded much more quickly than Lin Changheng had anticipated.
"Brother Lin, is there anything I can help you with?"
Mo Zhaoli asked suddenly, looking at him after accepting the Spirit Stones he had taken out.
"Hm?"
Lin Changheng’s slight hesitation was met with Mo Zhaoli’s voice, tinged with mock indignation. "Could it be that only Brother Lin is allowed to help Li’Er, but Li’Er isn’t allowed to help Brother Lin? Or perhaps Brother Lin looks down on any help I might offer?"
"Of course not."
Lin Changheng shook his head with a smile.
"Then please tell me, Brother Lin," Mo Zhaoli said, a smile instantly brightening her face.
"Very well. I do happen to be in need of some Demon Beast Essence Blood for my research and pill experimentation."
"Muddy Evil Essence Blood, or anything higher like Profound Spirit Essence Blood or Nether Void Essence Blood, would all be useful. As for the quantity... well, the more the better."
Since she insisted, there was no need for further pleasantries. Lin Changheng stated his needs directly.
"Demon Beast Essence Blood?"
Mo Zhaoli didn’t seem surprised. After all, Alchemists frequently worked with Demon Blood, as it was a crucial Alchemy Material. She nodded earnestly. "I’ll keep it in mind. You can rest assured, Brother Lin."
Then, as if suddenly remembering something, she added, "Brother Lin, please wait a moment."
Lin Changheng then watched as Mo Zhaoli reached for a white Storage Bag at her waist, one embroidered with a pear blossom.
’Could it be... Zhao Li has Essence Blood on her right now?’
A flicker of pleasant surprise went through Lin Changheng’s mind, though he didn’t let it show on his face. ’Is this what they call ’ask and you shall receive’?’
Before long, Mo Zhaoli had taken a pile of Jade Bottles from her Storage Bag.
There were over thirty in all.
"What’s this?"
Lin Changheng asked with a timely smile.
"You might not know this, Brother Lin, but half a year ago I accepted a hunting mission in my sect. I was tasked with killing a demon to gather materials for an Artifact Refining Master named Jin Yunzi."
"The Demon Beast was called a Mountain-moving Ape, which possesses a Muddy Evil Bloodline. He only needed its long tail! The beast was incredibly tough, with thick skin and flesh, and was also adept at Earth Magic. It threw boulders like meteors, making it exceedingly difficult to kill. It truly cost me a great deal of effort and a number of tricks."
"When I completed the mission, I couldn’t just let the rest of the Demon Beast’s corpse go to waste, so I harvested all the valuable materials. I turned in the long tail to complete the task, but before I could process the other parts, I was assigned another mandatory sect mission. With one thing and another, I’ve been delayed and still haven’t dealt with them. Since you happen to need them, Brother Lin, please take them as a gift."
With a faint smile, Mo Zhaoli pushed the Essence Blood vials across to Lin Changheng.
In the Marketplaces of the Outer World, a single portion of Muddy Evil Bloodline Essence Blood could sell for three Spirit Stones, meaning the vials Mo Zhaoli had just produced were worth nearly one hundred Spirit Stones. While there might be a slight discount for buying in bulk, the value was more or less accurate.
"Li’Er, you are preparing for Foundation Establishment and are in great need of resources. How can I accept this? I cannot take this gift, Brother Lin." fɾeeweɓnѳveɭ.com
Lin Changheng spoke slowly, disagreeing with her offer.
He then proposed a counteroffer: he would purchase the Essence Blood at market price with a separate payment of Spirit Stones. After she achieved Foundation Establishment, if she was still so inclined, it wouldn’t be too late to gift him some then.
But Mo Zhaoli refused. "Brother Lin, I absolutely cannot agree to that."
Her bright, beautiful eyes swept over Lin Changheng. "You previously mentioned in your letters, Brother Lin, that your Cultivation had reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation and that you were working to break through the bottleneck to the Late Stage. You must need Spirit Stones now more than ever, so how could you give them all to me? I am not so self-absorbed as to allow that, Li’Er could never do such a thing."
She was, however, slightly puzzled. ’With my Cultivation at the Ninth Layer of Qi Cultivation, no matter how I look at him, Brother Lin seems to be only at the Fifth Layer.’
But she also knew Lin Changheng had no reason to lie to her, so she concluded that the concealment technique he cultivated must be exceptionally profound.
After some back and forth, they finally decided to deduct the cost from the three hundred Spirit Stones he had lent her.
The two chatted for a while longer before Mo Zhaoli stood to take her leave, saying she ought to spend the rest of her time at the Xu Family estate with her grandfather.
Previously, some of the Xu Family higher-ups had asked Lin Changheng to put in a good word for them, hoping to strengthen their connection with Mo Zhaoli. After all, she was a Foundation Establishment Seed who already had an emotional connection to their family, and her position in the Upper Sect was not insignificant. She was well worth winning over and investing in.
Lin Changheng hadn’t mentioned it at all. How could he possibly spend his own social capital to endorse them? Such favors were a finite resource. Besides, even Ink Master didn’t interfere in his granddaughter’s choices, so how could he presume to do so?
At the end of the day, his role in the Xu Family was that of a "Guest Minister Alchemist." Fulfilling other requests and demands was not within the scope of his duties.
This point had to be clear.
Lin Changheng saw her off and returned to his room. Looking at the faintly demonic vials of Demon Beast Essence Blood on his table, he couldn’t help but smile.
This was the benefit of cultivating a wide social circle and treating others with goodwill.
It would have taken considerable effort to find this much Essence Blood on his own. And venturing deep into the Wilderness for Demon Hunting was far too dangerous.
This was much better.
"Mountain-moving Ape!"
It was even an Earth Element beast, perfect for Lin Changheng to use in the Metamorphosis of his True Core and further enhance his Earth Escape technique.
"Let’s begin."
Lin Changheng began to extract the Essence Blood directly.
Within his sea of consciousness, the Primordial Cauldron began to tremble.
[Pan Mountain Turtle Treasure Seed: Fifth Layer]
[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]
[Metamorphosis: 10/10]
...
[Essence Blood Absorbed. Metamorphosis Successful!]
[Pan Mountain Turtle True Core: Supreme]
[Available for Refinement into Demon Beast Bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique: Earth Escape]
"Refine."
A True Core the size of an adult’s fist materialized and, with a beckoning gesture from Lin Changheng, floated into his body.
"Hah!"
Lin Changheng took a deep breath. An incredible sense of security washed over him, as if his entire being was sinking into the comforting embrace of the deep earth, enveloped by a warm, solid Earth Spirit Power.
His recently acquired Earth Escape Technique had once again transformed, becoming the Earth Escape Demon Technique.
He now possessed a much deeper understanding of Earth Escape.
It was no longer an acquired skill but something innate, as if it had been carved into his very bones and blood, becoming almost instinctual.
Soon, Lin Changheng completed his test of the ability.
"I can burrow seventy feet deep, for a duration of fifty breaths!"
"And I can travel five li in a single burst!"
Lin Changheng was extremely satisfied. According to rumor, the Divine Sense of an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator only covered a radius of less than one li!
Even accounting for the movement speed of an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator sweeping the area with their Divine Sense, the probability of him being discovered while tunneling at high speed was slim to none!
