Chapter 127: Chapter 127: The Old Taoist and the Treasure Plant

Faced with the female cultivator’s kindness and concern, Lin Changheng could only explain it away by saying he had a strong aptitude for Body Refining, had energy to spare, and knew what he was doing.

Xu Hanji seemed lost in thought but didn’t press the matter. After all, who didn’t have their own unique qualities?

She had her own secrets as well. After offering one more word of caution, she arranged for the full quantity of materials Lin Changheng had requested.

Lin Changheng breathed a sigh of relief and paid the full price in Spirit Stones for the materials. By his rough estimate, he had spent nearly a thousand Spirit Stones on these materials alone over the years.

The old adage that martial arts are a rich man’s game also seemed to apply in the Cultivation Realm.

After all, Body Refining was, in a sense, a martial art...

...

An unknown amount of time passed. When Lin Changheng felt the medicinal bath was like plain water, with no more essence to absorb, he rose and stepped out of the barrel.

As he dressed, he noticed the faint cyan glow on his skin. A thought struck him, and he immediately began to circulate the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood.

Without warning, a cyan light began to emanate from Lin Changheng’s body.

Lin Changheng held out his palm and saw that it was quietly being covered in a deep cyan hue, resembling a piece of mottled Cyan Jade.

If Xu Hanji’s execution of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood had resembled a piece of pure, flawless, and untextured Cyan Jade, then Lin Changheng’s "mottling" was not from impurities, but from the faint patterns of ancient wood grain that appeared just beneath his skin.

This was the unique effect and hallmark of the Cultivation Technique’s second layer.

He flicked a finger against his arm, producing the dull thud of striking hardwood.

Even the blades of Lower Grade Magical Artifacts could no longer harm him in the slightest.

With this newfound defense, Lin Changheng’s sense of security grew a little stronger.

’I’d say my physique now is comparable to a Tier One Middle Stage Demon Beast. I can finally be called tough and thick-skinned.’

But this didn’t mean Lin Changheng could now fight a Demon Beast in a direct physical brawl.

He wasn’t an idiot. Why would he willingly enter a Demon Beast’s domain of expertise and fight it head-on? The correct approach was to use a Cultivator’s ranged attacks, play to his strengths, and kite the beast.

...

「Seven days later.」

"Alchemist Lin, this old Daoist has come for his pills again."

Lin Changheng was in the Golden Light Array Shop across the street, chatting idly with Shopkeeper Jin Geng, when he heard someone call out.

He then saw an old Loose Cultivator in a gray Daoist Robe enter the Xu Family’s Alchemy Shop, striding quickly towards them with a smile.

"Please inspect them and see if everything is in order."

Lin Changheng gave Jin Geng a meaningful look, then stood up to greet the man, handing over a porcelain elixir vial about a hand’s span tall.

"How could I not trust Alchemist Lin? Your Alchemy Skill is renowned for all to see."

Elder Fang didn’t even look at it before putting it away.

Since they were out in the open and Jin Geng was present, the old Daoist didn’t say much more. After a brief exchange, he took his leave.

But the excitement and anticipation on his face were plain to see. He was clearly about to go retrieve the treasure from the mountain ravine, just as he’d said.

In response, Lin Changheng simply shook his head.

Treasures could stir the heart, but they could also claim a life.

He respected and understood Elder Fang’s treasure-hunting endeavors, but he himself was not tempted.

He wouldn’t take a single step out of Cyan Spirit Marketplace unless it was absolutely necessary!

...

Turning back, Lin Changheng resumed his earlier conversation with Jin Geng.

Previously, the Jin Clan Elders had ultimately refused to cede an Array Inheritance to Lin Changheng, which had made Jin Geng grind his teeth in frustration.

But there was nothing he could do.

This was, after all, an unspoken rule in the Cultivation Realm: everyone hoarded their own techniques, no matter how insignificant. Although Jin Geng was a genius in his clan, he was *just* a "genius" and lacked the power to challenge or overturn such a deep-rooted convention.

Lin Changheng had naturally let the matter drop, thanking Jin Geng for his efforts.

However, with the revelation of Lin Changheng’s status as an Upper Grade Alchemist, the Jin Clan Elders’ stance seemed to have softened. They had even expressed a desire to meet him.

"Brother Jin, your clan elders don’t want me to sell myself to them, do they?"

"I don’t know what they’re thinking or what they’re plotting." Jin Geng scratched his head with a good-natured smile, his massive frame quivering like a mountain of flesh.

Lin Changheng considered this for a moment, then said seriously, "If that’s not what your clan elders have in mind, then a meeting is possible."

"But if they’re hoping for me to switch allegiances, they shouldn’t even bring it up. I’ve been with the Xu Family for over thirty years. I’m respected and quite comfortable, and I have no intention of abandoning them. We have a great relationship, so it’s better to get this out of the way now to avoid it affecting our friendship later, don’t you think?"

"Hahaha! Of course I understand that. Brother Lin, you’ve already refused the olive branches of several other families. Others might not know that, but how could I, your brother, not know? Don’t worry, I’ll relay your message to the clan."

"Good. In that case, I will await the news."

Lin Changheng smiled.

He was only slightly interested in Arrays and planned to dabble in them, but it wasn’t something he absolutely had to have right now. There would be more opportunities in the future.

If the Jin Family thought he would switch his allegiance, shatter his current stability, and plunge into potential trouble all for an Array Inheritance he could take or leave, they were sorely mistaken.

Besides, he didn’t know the Jin Family well enough. What if they had treacherous ambitions? If he fell into a den of wolves, wouldn’t that be a terrible disaster?

Besides, stable development and steady progress were the number one priorities Lin Changheng had set for himself.

That was non-negotiable!

...

「Two months passed.」

Lin Changheng saw no sign of Elder Fang.

Before, besides asking Lin Changheng to refine pills for him, he would also occasionally visit the Xu Family’s Alchemy Shop to buy some common elixirs, making him a regular customer.

But now, he was nowhere to be seen—

’Could he have gotten trapped in that mountain ravine?’

The thought surfaced in his mind, naturally and logically.

Lin Changheng shook his head. It was a pity. He offered a moment of silence for the man.

This kind of treasure hunting had risks that outweighed the rewards. It was even more terrifying than the stock market in his past life.

Lin Changheng had long anticipated such outcomes and avoided them like the plague.

...

Just when Lin Changheng was convinced the old Daoist was dead and gone, he reappeared half a month later, alive and kicking.

He just had a slight limp but was otherwise unharmed.

When Lin Changheng saw him, Elder Fang was speaking to the shopkeeper. "Two Upper Grade [Qi Solidifying Pills] and a bottle of Middle Grade [Water Flower Pills]." He placed a Middle Grade Spirit Stone on the counter.

"Alchemist Lin."

Elder Fang, who had sharp eyes, spotted Lin Changheng and greeted him warmly.

A moment later, he began to conspiratorially share the story of what had happened two months ago with Lin Changheng.

"You actually managed to get a Treasure Plant? And you were only lightly injured?"

Lin Changheng’s pupils contracted slightly as he spoke in surprise.

"That’s right. I was gone for a while, first to recover from my injuries, and second to sell the Treasure Plant for Spirit Stones and other resources."

Elder Fang lowered his voice, unable to hide the joy on his face.

"Congratulations, then."

Lin Changheng smiled and dropped the subject, not planning to ask any further questions.

But then, Elder Fang took out a wooden box sealed with a Talisman and handed it to Lin Changheng. "Alchemist Lin, please take a look for me. The age of this herb... the more I think about it after I sold it, the more I feel like something was off. I suspect I was swindled."

"Oh?"

Lin Changheng paused, startled, but did not take the box.

"The main stalk of the Treasure Plant was taken. What’s inside is the remaining Residual Root. I don’t know if that’s enough for you to tell?"

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