Free Web NovelChapter 99: Chapter 99: Zhao Li’s Visit Home
Lin Changheng received two pieces of good news at once, which came as a bit of a surprise. freёweɓnovel.com
The first was to be expected; any issues that arose were just temporary growing pains.
The second, however, was one of the Xu Family’s core secret arts, and they had given it to him in its entirety.
For them to give him this meant two things: first, that his value had been recognized, and second, that the Xu Family had placed sufficient trust in him. Of course, building that trust had been an incredibly difficult process, one that had taken Lin Changheng nearly thirty years to accomplish.
But a deeper, more influential factor was the Xu Family’s own elevation in status.
With a Foundation Establishment Cultivator in their ranks, a Tier One Upper Grade Alchemy Dao, while still important, was only so important.
After all, it was still prefixed with "Tier One"!
And in the circles that Foundation Establishment Cultivators moved in, even a Tier Two Alchemy Dao was not an unobtainable prize.
This was the change that naturally came with a leap in status.
The value of a mere Upper Grade Alchemy Dao had naturally diminished.
...
The Xu Family had now been promoted to a Foundation Establishment Clan, but in all other aspects, its foundation was still that of a Qi Cultivation Clan.
It was extremely weak.
Relying on a single Foundation Establishment Cultivator was not enough. They needed to improve on all fronts to truly be worthy of the title "Foundation Establishment Clan" and live up to the name.
The Alchemy Dao, Talisman Dao, and others were also among the Xu Family’s key areas for development.
Especially now that the Xu Family had a half-share of the Cyan Spirit District for support, they were not short on Spirit Stones for the time being. Thus, strengthening their foundation had become their most pressing concern. ƒгeewёbnovel.com
Therefore, a promising talent like Lin Changheng, whom they knew inside and out and had worked with long-term, would naturally have resources funneled his way.
At the same time, the Xu Family also instructed Lin Changheng to keep this matter confidential for now and not let the news spread.
Many eyes were secretly watching the Xu Family now, and they feared becoming the nail that gets hammered down. They had to do their best to avoid perilous situations.
This advice was beneficial to Lin Changheng, so he naturally nodded in agreement.
...
Unlike Lin Changheng’s calm demeanor, the news of his appointment caused quite a stir within the Xu Family.
"I remember, wasn’t that Alchemist Lin just an ordinary talent from the outside at first? How has he grown so much that the family is entrusting him with such a great responsibility?"
"That’s right. I think he has a Mixed Grade Spirit Root, but he managed to defy the heavens and change his fate with his terrifying talent for the Alchemy Dao."
"Talent for the Alchemy Dao? Heh. Have you not heard about Alchemist Lin’s humble beginnings? He spent eleven years as an apprentice, watching the furnace and tending the fire. He got where he is by never giving up, taking it one step at a time!"
"That’s so inspirational? He should be a role model for our generation."
"Hiss... so that’s how it is! If I pick up the Talisman Dao I abandoned ten years ago, do you all think I still have a chance?"
"Besides, it seems he’s also entangled with that stunningly beautiful Tantai Talisman Master. I once saw them with my own eyes, raising their palms to swear an oath by the river, as if pledging themselves to each other for life..."
"What? There’s a secret like that? Quick, tell us everything..."
Lin Changheng had no idea that the news of his promotion would evolve into romantic gossip about him. Later, it would even morph into outrageous storylines like "swearing an oath over a pregnancy" and "chasing the beauty under the moonlight."
Meanwhile, he had already made his way to the Scripture Hall.
He took out his Token and stated his purpose to the Steward: to consult the Upper Grade Alchemy the clan had promised him.
"Alchemist Lin, you are truly blessed with talent. I have witnessed much of your journey, and I can’t help but be impressed. Please forgive me if I have been discourteous in the past."
The tall, thin Steward had previously held a poor attitude toward Lin Changheng. He had thought Lin Changheng was extremely stubborn and refused to listen to advice when he insisted on exchanging his merits for a flawed Upper Grade Technique. The Steward had been certain he would go astray, regret it endlessly, and eventually come back to his door, begging or even crying to exchange it for something else.
But that never happened. The second time they met, Lin Changheng had come for a "Middle Grade Alchemy." Though surprised that the man had some ability, the Steward’s attitude had remained cold.
Now was the third time! And he had come directly for the "Upper Grade Alchemy," one of the clan’s foundational treasures!
As the Steward of the Scripture Hall, no one understood the value of this "Upper Grade Alchemy" better than he did, yet it had been given to the man before him.
One could only imagine the extent of his astonishment.
So, he promptly offered an apology, attempting to make amends.
Lin Changheng didn’t care about such trivialities. He had no interest in the matter and simply shook his head. "I don’t even remember it. Why should you trouble yourself with it, Steward?"
The tall, thin Steward was taken aback. Seeing the genuine look on Lin Changheng’s face, he gave a self-deprecating smile and said nothing more.
He turned, retrieved a scroll, and presented it with both hands before quietly retreating.
He didn’t even mention any rules for reading it or stipulate any conditions.
Clearly, a person like Lin Changheng, who could obtain the "Upper Grade Alchemy," no longer needed to concern himself with such so-called rules and conditions.
As long as he didn’t deliberately betray the clan and leak the technique, if any minor rules or conditions conflicted with his actions, then it was the rules and conditions that were at fault.
Not him!
Gently stroking the seven large words written on the scroll—"Record of the Two Principles Profound Furnace"—Lin Changheng also realized this point. His heart immediately felt incomparably free, and even his Dao Heart became clear and unobstructed.
In truth, his refining of Middle Grade Elixirs had long since reached the point where he could produce two Masterpiece Pills out of the ten Pills in a single batch!
It was just that he had achieved this feat in too short a time. It was so shocking that he couldn’t reveal it and had to keep it concealed.
Furthermore, since he truly couldn’t find an Upper Grade Alchemy Dao in the Outer World, he had to put the matter aside. Only recently, when the time was right, did he decide to reveal his skill.
Lin Changheng clutched the scroll, shook his head to clear away his distracting thoughts, and then immersed himself in his research.
「Half a month passed in the blink of an eye.」
Lin Changheng finally emerged from his study of the Alchemy Dao.
"Truly miraculous."
He muttered to himself. Lin Changheng looked utterly exhausted. There were dark circles under his eyes, and combined with his disheveled appearance, he seemed to be in terrible shape. His eyes, however, were incredibly bright!
They shone like two suns rising at dawn!
This Upper Grade Alchemy Dao was extremely complex, difficult, and tedious—several times more so than the Middle Grade Alchemy Dao. However, for Lin Changheng, who possessed the comprehension boost from his [Origin Treasure Seed·Fourth Layer], it was not overly difficult.
He had even reached the entry-level.
A simple example made the difference clear. For instance, refining a Tier One Middle Grade Elixir required executing around eight hundred Pill Formulas.
But with the Upper Grade Alchemy Dao, it required around fifteen hundred!
The required refining time also increased from two or three days to five days or more; seven or eight days was not uncommon.
This was also why High Tier Alchemists were so valuable.
Lin Changheng’s scalp had tingled just hearing about it before, but now he had begun to grasp the fundamentals.
’It seems... there’s a knack to it.’
’This is the confidence my [Origin Treasure Seed·Fourth Layer] gives me. If it’s still not enough, I can perform Spirit Stealing again in about half a year to reach the Treasure Seed Fifth Layer. What would I have to fear then?’
When he left the hall, the tall, thin Steward personally saw him out.
...
「Five days later.」
Just as Lin Changheng was about to depart for the Cyan Spirit District to assume his new position, he received a piece of news.
Mo Zhaoli of the Purple Extreme Sect was returning home to visit family.
