Chapter 171: Chapter 154: Swallowing the Bait but Leaving the Hook, Beginning Alchemy

This put Lin Changheng’s mind at ease, and he continued his preparations methodically.

"Brother Lin."

That evening at dusk, the radiant and captivating Cui Jianshui, dressed in a palace-style gown, arrived at his door once more, carrying homemade delicacies and Spirit Wine.

Lin Changheng naturally welcomed her in with a smile.

"Fairy Cui, you’re too kind."

Cui Jianshui rolled up her sleeves, revealing wrists as fair as jade. She took the delicacies and Spirit Wine from her basket and arranged them one by one on the stone table, at which point Lin Changheng rose to get cups and dishes.

"Brother Lin, please rest. I’ll go."

Lin Changheng had just stood up when he felt a light tug on his sleeve. He paused, slightly startled, and turned to see that Cui Jianshui was holding him back.

She offered a faint smile as she took his arm and pulled him back down into his seat. As she did, the proud swell of her chest inevitably brushed against his arm.

Then, she placed her hands on his shoulders, pressing down gently to make him sit.

A fragrant, orchid-like scent unique to a female cultivator wafted toward him, causing Lin Changheng’s eyes to narrow slightly.

"Then I’ll trouble you, Fairy Cui."

There was a slight tremor in Lin Changheng’s voice, but for the most part, it remained cool and calm.

"Hehe, it’s no trouble."

With a light, bell-like laugh, Cui Jianshui disappeared into the small kitchen next to the Alchemy Room. A short while later, she returned and sat down across from Lin Changheng.

She then leaned forward slightly, demurely pouring wine for Lin Changheng.

Lin Changheng’s gaze was unavoidably drawn to the view. With the bright, snow-capped peaks right before his eyes, he decided to simply go with the flow and enjoy the scenery.

He had to admit, her temperament leaned toward the noble and pure, which made the allure she inadvertently revealed all the more captivating in its contrast.

"Thank you, Brother Lin, for looking after me all these years. With this wine, let me raise a toast to you."

Cui Jianshui raised her cup, her beautiful eyes glistening as she boldly met Lin Changheng’s gaze.

"Hehe, we’re neighbors. It’s only natural that we help each other out. Besides, you’ve treated me quite well, Fairy Cui, referring many clients for alchemy. I’m truly grateful for that."

They touched their cups together. The wine sloshed, and a mellow aroma, mingled with a Spirit Fragrance, wafted out. It was at least a Tier Two Spirit Wine.

With a bold gesture, Lin Changheng tilted his head back and drained the cup.

"You can really hold your liquor, Brother Lin."

The melodious praise, tinged with a hint of flirtation, reached his ears as Cui Jianshui rose once more to refill his cup.

This continued for about a quarter of an hour.

The jade pot was nearly empty, its contents now in their stomachs. Thanks to the female cultivator’s persistent toasts and refills, however, far more of it had gone into Lin Changheng.

The Tier Two Spirit Wine was truly potent. Both of them were starting to feel a little drunk, and a peculiar, amorous atmosphere began to settle over the courtyard.

"Shui’Er will refill Brother Lin’s cup."

Cui Jianshui rose again, her delicate body swaying. A blush had crept onto her lovely face. As she came to Lin Changheng’s side to pour his wine, her footing seemed to fail her, and she looked as if she were about to fall.

Though slightly tipsy, Lin Changheng’s reflexes were sharp. How could he possibly let such a beautiful female cultivator fall?

His large hand shot out, wrapping around the female cultivator’s waist to steady her.

Even through the thin fabric, her waist felt warm to the touch, and so soft it was as if she had no bones.

Perhaps because he was tipsy, he misjudged his strength, pulling too hard and causing her entire body to fall into his embrace.

"Ah..."

The sudden turn of events elicited a soft cry from her as her full, rounded buttocks landed heavily in Lin Changheng’s lap.

The strange sensation sent a jolt through Lin Changheng.

"Brother Lin..."

Realizing her current position—sitting in Lin Changheng’s lap, her arms almost in an embrace around him, his distinctly masculine scent filling her senses—Cui Jianshui’s pretty face flushed crimson.

She murmured as if in protest, but her body showed no intention of moving away.

Then, she shifted, grinding her hips against him just slightly.

Lin Changheng had already sensed her intentions, but this was an almost blatant invitation. He was no saint, able to remain unmoved with a beauty in his lap. Without hesitation, his hand began a bold ascent.

Cui Jianshui let out a soft, alluring hum. After a moment of hesitation, she seemed to make up her mind. Instead of rejecting his roaming hand, she leaned in and pressed her red lips lightly against his cheek.

"Are you sure about this, Fairy Cui?"

Lin Changheng asked in a deep voice.

He received no verbal answer, only the response of her lips. Lin Changheng’s hand tightened slightly, supporting her thigh as he turned her fully in his lap to face him, pulling her into a close embrace.

Just then, a night wind swept through as dark clouds obscured the new moon, plunging the courtyard into a darkness so deep you couldn’t see your hand in front of your face.

「Half an incense stick later.」

"Huff... Brother Lin, please, slow down."

The female voice suddenly cut in, her rapid breaths now carrying a note of soberness.

True to her word, Lin Changheng stopped his wandering hand.

He lifted it from her fair skin, leaving behind a patch of flushed crimson where he had held her.

The corner of his mouth, unseen by anyone, carried a faint, inexplicable curve.

"Brother Lin, we... we have plenty of time."

A rustling sound filled the air. With her disheveled dress hastily straightened, and without even having time to put the silk stockings back on her fair feet, Cui Jianshui bid a hasty farewell and left.

After reactivating the Restriction on the courtyard, Lin Changheng turned and went back inside. The look of lingering desire on his face vanished, replaced instantly by an icy glint in his eyes.

Then, he opened his mouth and spat.

WHOOSH!

A dark gold Fireball the size of a baby’s fist flew out from his stomach through his mouth. With a beckoning gesture from Lin Changheng, it immediately flew back.

It hovered above his palm.

As he focused his gaze, the flames on the upper half of the Fireball parted, revealing what was contained within.

It was wisps of light green smoke, trapped inside.

It was the same color as the Tier Two Spirit Wine from earlier.

It was colored but odorless, making it impossible to detect when mixed in the wine.

As if it had a life of its own, it struggled to fly out but was held fast by the flames.

’So, tonight really was a honey trap.’

’The goal was to poison me... No, that’s not right. My Poison Transformation Demon Technique didn’t give me any warning. This isn’t a toxin... it’s...’

Lin Changheng began to study it and quickly reached a conclusion. ’A type of Gu.’

’And it’s a non-venomous Gu. The intention is to plant it to control me?’

Clearly, Cui Jianshui and whoever was behind her didn’t want Lin Changheng dead. The wealth a Tier Two Alchemist could generate was staggering; it would be a terrible waste to kill him. Instead, they sought to control him.

’Could this be related to Gu Chang’an?’

With a flick of his wrist, he sealed the substance and tossed it into his Storage Bag. His mind raced as he began to ponder the implications.

Lin Changheng had noticed the change in Cui Jianshui for some time. He had played along without tipping his hand precisely because he wanted to see what she was really up to.

Now he had his answer. His previous guess that she was seeking some form of Personal Dependence was inaccurate.

A moment ago, while her guard was down, he had also probed her and discovered that she had been hiding her cultivation level.

Ninth Layer Qi Cultivation!

But so what?

Cui Jianshui had no idea that the man she had just embraced possessed a physique comparable to a Tier Two Demon Beast. With a single thought, he could have torn her to shreds without her being able to resist in the slightest.

Sparing her life was no loss for Lin Changheng. Not only had he swallowed the bait without taking the hook, but he now had a chance to follow the line and reel in the mastermind behind it all.

...

「One month later.」

Cui Jianshui visited the Qingyuan Small Building several more times, always dressed to the nines, but Lin Changheng would use his alchemy as an excuse to keep the visits brief, inviting her in for a short chat before showing her out.

If he weren’t genuinely busy, he might have enjoyed her soft, seductive company a few more times.

’What’s wrong with playing along and just swallowing the bait?’

’It’s not a bad way to add a little spice to the long road of cultivation.’

HAAAA...

In his bedroom, Lin Changheng had been fully focused, using all his power to channel the Red Sky Profound Flame and refine his Magical Power. Suddenly, he opened his eyes, a look of profound joy on his face.

’This was not easy at all. I’ve finally finished refining all of my Magical Power!’

After more than eight years, he had finally finished refining and tempering all the Magical Power in his body. It was no longer bloated or impure; its purity was now exceptionally high.

It felt as if he only needed to activate his Foundation Establishment Technique to effortlessly compress this Magical Power, transforming it from a dense, pure gas into a liquid that would drip into his Dantian.

...

「On the eve of the six-month deadline.」

Thanks to Lin Changheng’s diligent efforts catalyzing it with the True Intent of his Rongsheng Divine Abilities, the ninth purple leaf of the Nine-leaf Purple Ginseng finally finished growing, unfurling itself toward the moon.

Silvery-white Spiritual Light, visible to the naked eye, flowed through its veins, while a purple mist emanated from it, carrying an overpowering Spirit Fragrance.

This meant that the Treasure Plant had finally matured and was ready to be used in alchemy!

The next day, a Dharma Ship flew in from the horizon, and the figure of a Female Immortal in a moon-white long dress floated down from it.

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