Chapter 149: Chapter 143: Touching Tier Two, Neighbor Connections

’In other words, an Upper Grade Flying Shuttle Magical Artifact, without any Magical Power infused, can’t break my [Limb Hardening] defense. It’s simply stopped. But in a proper Magical Combat, once infused with Magical Power, it can break through my defense and I will be injured.’

Lin Changheng’s eyes flashed. Far from being alarmed, he was delighted, a satisfied expression on his face. This was a significant improvement.

But then, he seemed to think of something. His expression shifted, and the aura of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood silently emerged as his body began to transform once again.

Beneath his skin, originally as dark as Profound Iron, cyan patterns spread out from the joints of his spine, and the muscles and bones beneath felt like the gnarled knots of an ancient vine.

The [Limb Hardening Technique · Entering Transformation] and the Third Layer of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood were directly stacking on top of each other.

They were actually fusing!

A ferocious and primal aura erupted from him!

Looking at him now, Lin Changheng’s skin was a mix of cyan and black. Patterns like Profound Iron forgings and the age rings of ancient wood intertwined, and his muscle fibers bulged like the gnarled Roots of a thousand-year-old tree, yet they gleamed with a cold, metallic luster.

His body was terrifyingly cold, like a humanoid Demon Beast. Every breath carried a muffled echo, as if a Melting Furnace was hidden within his chest.

’Tier Two?’

Lin Changheng guessed.

’No, I’m still a bit off!’

He carefully compared his state to the description and manifestations of the Fourth Layer of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood Cultivation Technique. All his physical attributes were close, but he was still missing the final qualitative leap.

But...

The Upper Grade Flying Shuttle Magical Artifact suddenly flew up, and infused with Magical Power, it slashed down. CLANG! He was completely unscathed; it had been blocked outside his body.

"It worked!"

Lin Changheng was pleasantly surprised.

With a physique like this, he wouldn’t go so far as to say he was invincible among those of the same realm, but moving unchallenged through the Qi Cultivation Stage would be no problem at all.

Now, even if he faced an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator, he had the ability to withstand a few direct hits, giving him time to use various forms of Magic to escape with his life.

’I still need to continue my Cultivation of the Evergreen Body of the Ancient Wood. And I need the [Fire-tailed Golden Rat Treasure Seed] to continue its Metamorphosis into the [True Core] Demon Technique. With the boost from the [Mountain-moving Ape]’s [Giant Power Technique] on top of that, it might not be impossible for me to fight an Early Stage Foundation Establishment cultivator relying on physical strength alone.’

A blueprint slowly unfolded before his eyes. Lin Changheng saw a powerful path to ensuring his own survival!

His sense of security soared. Facing this dangerous Cultivation Realm, his confidence had grown that much stronger.

...

’Time to continue the Spirit Stealing.’

Lin Changheng poured in the remaining two hundred portions of Essence Blood all at once.

[Fire-tailed Golden Rat Treasure Seed · Fifth Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Metamorphosis: 0/10]

[Utility: Muddy Evil Demon Beast Bloodline, Gold and Fire Attribute Twins, Perfect Spirit Stealing, Life Nurturing Dao, can Refine into the bloodline Ancestor Demon Technique "Limb Hardening"]

’Everything is ready. All I’m missing now is the [Profound Spirit Essence Blood].’

Lin Changheng also took the opportunity to use the [Spirit Detecting Skill] to check his own Spirit Roots:

Fire Spirit Root, thirty-four strands of Spiritual Charm!

Wood Spirit Root, nineteen strands of Spiritual Charm.

Earth Spirit Root, thirteen strands of Spiritual Charm.

Metal Spirit Root, ten strands of Spiritual Charm.

Water Spirit Root, still five strands of Spiritual Charm.

He gave his Metal Spirit Root a longer look. It was just one strand away from evolving into a Lower Grade Spirit Root.

At that point, he would have one Middle Grade Spirit Root and three Lower Grade Spirit Roots.

...

In the following days, Lin Changheng prepared a gift basket and planned to visit his neighbors on all sides.

The contents of the gift basket were quite valuable, showing sufficient sincerity.

Two Middle Grade Masterpiece Elixirs for advancing one’s Cultivation.

They were worth around twenty Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

His first visit was naturally to his neighbor on the left, the [Sound Master] Cui Jianshui, whom he had met several times and was somewhat familiar with.

Hearing that Lin Changheng had come to visit, Cui Jianshui opened the Restriction from inside and pushed the door open, revealing her lovely face.

"Alchemist Lin, please, come in."

"I hope I’m not disturbing you, Fairy?"

Lin Changheng handed over the gift basket with a warm smile.

"Not at all!" Cui Jianshui seemed very enthusiastic as she led Lin Changheng inside.

The two went to the main house and sat down, where she served him Fragrant Tea.

They made some simple small talk, getting to know a bit about each other.

When Cui Jianshui learned that Lin Changheng was fifty-three years old, had previously been an Honored Guest Elder at an Alchemy Shop in the Marketplace, and had only recently given up a comfortable life to try his luck in the Immortal City, she couldn’t help but look surprised.

Obviously, while the Immortal City offered many opportunities, the pressure was also immense.

The exorbitant rent alone was a clear indicator, enough to make most people flinch.

She had generally only heard of people returning to their hometowns to retire, not coming to the Immortal City for their twilight years.

Lin Changheng, in turn, learned that this woman had grown up in the Immortal City and was now the chief Sound Master at a shop in the Inner City called the "Immortal Sound Pavilion."

Her musical Skills had also reached the Tier One Upper Grade realm.

Lin Changheng expressed his curiosity about music and asked a few questions.

Cui Jianshui smiled faintly and offered a brief explanation.

It turned out that being a [Sound Master] was also physically demanding work.

This "physical" demand referred to Magical Power. Only through the continuous surging of Magical Power and the dense weaving of Divine Thought could one compose a melody that touched the soul.

After a single all-out performance, Cui Jianshui would not only have half her Magical Power depleted but would also be mentally and spiritually exhausted, requiring at least a full day of rest.

Later, Lin Changheng found out that the Immortal Sound Pavilion’s fees were tiered based on the level of the [Sound Master]. For an appearance by the chief Sound Master, the price started at eighty Spirit Stones and went up from there.

That was a truly high price.

...

The two chatted congenially and got along quite well. Then, Lin Changheng suddenly changed the subject, asking Cui Jianshui for information about their other neighbors.

This information wasn’t much of a secret; he would find out sooner or later anyway.

Therefore, Cui Jianshui didn’t hide anything.

From her, Lin Changheng learned that his neighbor to the right was a Tier Two Spirit Chef.

He was an enthusiastic and forthright person who worked at a high-end Spirit Wine Tower in the Immortal City. However, he was too busy with work and didn’t come back to stay every day.

Diagonally across from him on the left lived a young Artifact Refiner, at Tier One Middle Grade.

Diagonally across on the right was an old puppet master who lived with his sixteen-year-old granddaughter.

"A Tier Two Spirit Chef?"

Lin Changheng was a little surprised. ’With a Tier Two Skill, shouldn’t he be able to rent an Outer Lake Cave Mansion for the standard price?’

"I asked Mr. Zeng about that as well," Cui Jianshui replied. "His answer was simple: this place is closer and more convenient to the Spirit Wine Tower, and he doesn’t have high standards for his residence. As long as he has a place to stay, it’s fine. So he rents here."

Cui Jianshui spoke softly and gently, giving off a feeling as gentle as water.

"I see."

Lin Changheng smiled, though it was unclear whether he believed her or not.

After sitting for a while longer, Lin Changheng took his leave.

...

After leaving Cui Jianshui’s small courtyard, Lin Changheng first went to knock on Chef Zeng’s door, but no one was home.

He then went to knock on the old puppet master’s door. A pretty, young girl answered. Seeing a stranger before her, she couldn’t help but ask, "And you are?"

"I just moved into ’Yunjian Que’ not long ago. I’m a Pill Master living across the way in ’Qingyuan Small Building’, and I’ve come to pay a visit to my neighbors."

Lin Changheng stated his purpose and presented a gift basket at the appropriate moment.

"I know who you are, Alchemist Lin."

The pretty girl unexpectedly laughed.

"And how do you...?" Lin Changheng asked with a smile.

"A couple of days ago, my grandfather and I went to renew the lease on our courtyard, and Old Fang told us about you."

The pretty girl smiled. "Please come in, Alchemist Lin. My grandfather is busy inside, but he should be just about finished by now."

"Alright, then I’ll impose."

Lin Changheng followed her inside and heard the girl call out sweetly into the house, "Grandpa, Alchemist Lin from across the way is here."

"Mr. Lin, please wait just a moment and have a cup of tea. This old man will be right there after I finish polishing this Puppet."

A deep voice soon came from inside the house, but to Lin Changheng’s ears, its owner did not seem to be in good condition.

Beneath the low tone, he detected a hint of weakness, as if the deep voice was a deliberate attempt to conceal it.

Lin Changheng sat down at a stone table in the courtyard. He then saw a strange, dark, half-man-sized thing walk out from the shadows of the house, carrying a steaming cup of tea on a tray.

"This is... a Puppet?"

Lin Changheng’s pupils contracted.

Then, his mind turned, and he came to the correct conclusion.

As the half-man-sized Puppet slowly approached, each step it took seemed both strange and inexplicably coordinated.

Lin Changheng was also able to get a clear look at the Puppet’s true appearance—

It was carved entirely from some unknown black ironwood, its surface covered in fine runes. Its head was oval-shaped and possessed facial features, with yellow light glowing from its eyes, but its expression was blank, giving it a deathly, lifeless feel.

If you find any errors ( broken links, non-standard content, etc.. ), Please let us know < report chapter > so we can fix it as soon as possible.