Fire Crow, Third Tier

[Spirit Snatch: 54/100]

"This Treasure Seed truly required water grinding through stone—only eighteen points of Spirit Snatch in a year. Now that I've broken through to the fourth layer of Qi Refining, I wonder whether the speed will increase again?"

Within less than a month, he would be able to verify his earlier guess.

His gaze pierced through illusion and fell upon the [Origin Cauldron] once more.

The cauldron had not changed in any way, but at the stir of Lin Changheng's consciousness, the azure clouds parted, revealing the other three Treasure Seeds within.

Over the previous year and a half, Lin Changheng had had no way to get his hands on discarded or inferior pills, so his source of essence blood had naturally been cut off.

It had always been controlled by that low-grade old alchemist.

But with the half-year-long "Great Reclamation" mobilization ending—one and a half years ago—some Rogue Cultivators and a small number of Lineage cultivators had begun exploring the Wilderness. Their purpose was to survey spirit mines, seek spirit lands, discover spirit herbs, locate demon beast nests, and more.

About half a year later, large numbers of Rogue Cultivators and some Lineage cultivators advanced into the Wilderness to seize resources and clear out demon beasts.

All of this counted as merit. Not only did the gains belong to the individual or Lineage, but accumulated merit could also be exchanged for opportunities to enter a sect, Breakthrough Pill rewards, and other rewards. Even Foundation Establishment Pills were listed among them!

The Xu Family also harbored lofty ambitions and wanted to use this chance to rise to another level. In the second year, they dispatched quite a few Lineage cultivators into the Wilderness and occupied two small low-grade spirit mines.

The benefits were plain for all to see.

And there had been almost no losses.

The entire Xu Family was immediately invigorated and sent a second batch of cultivators into the Wilderness.

The old alchemist's grandson was green with envy and burning with impatience. Believing the danger to be slight, he ignored his grandfather's earnest warnings and resolutely signed up.

Thereafter, the Xu Family's advance went smoothly, with good news arriving again and again. But half a year ago, while exploring a swamp, they were ambushed by a group of Green Miasma Alligator Dragons lurking beneath the marsh. Two Qi Refining Middle Stage cultivators and three third-layer Qi Refining cultivators died or were injured.

Those who were injured had also been invaded by terrifying Green Miasma poison. Even if they were rescued, it would be difficult to eradicate the poison. They would become cripples.

The alchemist's grandson had been in that party. Being rather calculating, he had kept everyone else in front of him and stayed toward the rear of the group.

The attack had come suddenly, and he had reacted quickly, turning around and rushing out in an instant. He had fled at the very front, only to catch the eye of a Green Miasma Alligator Dragon closing in from behind. A Water Arrow struck the back of his head dead-on, and he died on the spot.

When the terrible news arrived, the old alchemist was heartbroken and dazed, no longer able to handle discarded and inferior pills.

The task of processing low-grade discarded and inferior pills finally passed into circulation.

Lin Changheng and another low-grade Xu Family alchemist who sought the task divided it between them.

Seeing Lin Changheng proactively choose the [Crimson Flame Pill] and [Wood Origin Pill], the other alchemist said nothing and took the remaining two types.

But that did not mean Lin Changheng was not tempted by the essence blood in the other two kinds of pills. It was simply that pushing the Fire Crow Treasure Seed further ahead offered greater returns.

The Spirit Snatch results of the following half year were also quite pleasing.

He looked toward the crimson illusory Treasure Seed floating at the cauldron's mouth. With a slight stir of his mind, the Treasure Seed swayed gently.

[Fire Crow Treasure Seed · Third Tier]

[Spirit Snatch: 55/100]

Not only had the third tier of the Fire Crow Treasure Seed been filled through Spirit Snatch, but the fourth tier was nearly half accumulated as well.

This speed was both fast and not fast enough.

It was fast because, compared with his time at Zichuan Market, the accumulation rate was nearly twice as high.

But it was slow because it was only nearly twice as high!

Lin Changheng carefully calculated the figures. There were only a dozen or so alchemists in the clan at present, six of whom were low-grade alchemists.

Of them, including Lin Changheng, two had chosen "pill-refining shares," handling their own discarded and inferior pills rather than turning them over to the clan treasury.

The remaining four used a roll-call style of pill refining: fifteen furnaces a month, ten pills per furnace—not one furnace more, not one furnace less.

With a thirty to forty percent rate of discarded and inferior pills, divided among four types of low-grade pills, it was indeed about right.

Fortunately, the two major Treasure Seeds were basically advancing neck and neck, so it was still acceptable.

[Obtained: Fire Control Art · Clarity]

[Effect: Finely controls ordinary flames, greatly enhancing fire-element techniques]

The Fire Crow Treasure Seed's Fire Control effect was also immediate. Lin Changheng clearly noticed that when refining pills, his control over the furnace flames had become more effortless and natural, as though his hand followed his heart.

He could now refine seven batches of medicinal ingredients at once. Previously, the number had been five!

Moreover, among the pills he refined, the second pill was gradually approaching the quality of a premium pill.

With further polishing of his technique, or once the [Fire Crow Treasure Seed] reached the fourth tier and raised his Fire Control another step, he would be able to produce two premium pills in one furnace!

With this enhancement, Fire Bullet Art had also become more unpredictable in his control. Its size could suddenly expand midway through flight, or it could sharply alter its trajectory, making it impossible to guard against.

Next, Lin Changheng looked at the emerald Treasure Seed drifting up and down.

[Green Wood Snake Treasure Seed · Second Tier]

[Spirit Snatch: 45/100]

It had also completed one round of Spirit Snatch and become second tier!

[Poison Neutralization Art] had also risen to the realm of [Agility].

Its effect had strengthened once again.

[Enhanced bodily resistance to toxins; rapidly refines low-grade poisons]

Lin Changheng could not help imagining it. If this continued to be enhanced, would he gain a body immune to all poisons?

After all, many demon beasts naturally carried potent venom, which cultivators could extract. If he could keep poison outside his body, it would undoubtedly smell truly sweet.

The spiritual essence of his Fire Spirit Root had reached twelve strands, while his Wood Spirit Root had also risen to eight strands!

As for the earth-yellow [Rock Mountain Turtle Treasure Seed], it had not moved at all. The Xu Family had not even encountered the essence blood of such a beast.

"Perhaps I can take a look at the clan's small trade fair Fugui mentioned."

With a thought, Lin Changheng suddenly thought of a possible route.

According to Xu Fugui, the trade fair had originally been for Immortal Seedlings to exchange what they had and obtain what they lacked. Later, no one knew who had spread the word, and Xu Family members began joining in.

As its reputation spread, it became impossible to contain. More and more clansmen had needs, and they all joined to exchange what they had and obtain what they lacked.

It gradually evolved into the large-scale trade fair of today.

It was only held four times a year.

The nearest one would be at the end of the month.

Lin Changheng now had quite a few spirit stones on him. He believed they ought to be turned into essence blood, strength, means, and other enhancements for himself.

They would not give birth if he kept them stored away. Spend them!

Before the end of the month arrived, however—

Xu Fugui's invitation came first.

Lin Changheng had assumed Fugui had given birth again and again and again and again.

A year ago, Lin Changheng had attended Fugui's celebratory banquet for the birth of a child.

His seventh son!

But because the child had only a low-grade Spirit Root, no grand celebration had been held. He had merely invited several Immortal Seedlings with whom he was close to gather together.

When Lin Changheng saw no Xu Family members at the banquet, he knew Xu Fugui was still unwilling to accept things as they were. Instead, he treated his Immortal Seedling friends as his own family.

Stopping his cultivation of the Breath Concealment Art, Lin Changheng opened the invitation and saw that it was not so.

It was a "wedding invitation"!

He was getting married and taking a wife again.

The bride was still a Xu Family woman, but this time she was not a mortal. Rather, she was a woman with a Spirit Root.

Though it was only a mixed Spirit Root, immortals and mortals were still worlds apart.

This woman would be his wife.

The rest could wait.

Lin Changheng guessed that, first, Fugui had now reached the fifth layer of Qi Refining. No matter what, he counted as a mid-level force and held a certain position in the Xu Family.

Second, the Xu Family had seen that Fugui truly loved having children, never ceasing day or night. He had even fathered a child with a Mid-grade Spirit Root, so he had proven results.

But the most crucial reason was that the Land Reclamation front had suffered losses, and fresh blood had to be replenished in the rear.

So they continued raising the stakes and married another woman with a Spirit Root to him.

They hoped he would spread branches and leaves far and wide, producing many more descendants with Spirit Roots.