"Indeed."
Lin Changheng nodded. It seemed he truly needed to keep strengthening his means of survival and improving his cultivation. Otherwise, he would not even dare leave the lineage, and far too many opportunities would slip past him.
But that was also the side effect of being cautious. He had been mentally prepared for it and would naturally bear it.
Before long, several cultivators from the lineage came to ask about the prices of his pills.
Lin Changheng quoted them sixty percent of the usual price.
It was not because he was kindhearted. Rather, the Xu Family stipulated that pills, talismans, and the like could not be sold to fellow clansmen for more than the family's repurchase price, which was seventy percent.
Then he might as well make it sixty percent!
Lin Changheng did not care about that little bit of profit. Instead, he could use it to make an appearance and draw some attention.
Sure enough, once word of that price spread, many people immediately rushed over to buy them. In the blink of an eye, all the pills were sold out.
They also came to know this unfamiliar-looking pill refiner.
"Everyone, as I wish to thoroughly understand pill formulas and am also planning to make talismans, I need a certain quantity of demon beast essence blood. If any fellow Daoist can steadily provide a particular kind of essence blood, I can continue selling them genuine pills at low prices."
Seeing that the timing was about right, Lin Changheng cleared his throat and called out, "You may also pass the word to your friends and relatives. When the time comes, there will naturally be a finder's fee for you as well."
"Is that true?" Someone's eyes lit up as they sought confirmation.
"Of course it is true. If you have any news, come find me at Tide-Listening Dojo."
The crowd dispersed, but not a single person stepped forward.
Lin Changheng merely wore a calm expression as he watched the scene.
He had never sought immediate returns. He was only planting a seed in everyone's hearts.
Perhaps one day, it would take root and sprout?
Another half month passed.
In the small courtyard, Lin Changheng, who had been seated cross-legged with his eyes closed, finished his cultivation. The gathered spiritual qi dispersed from around him.
A trace of frustration appeared on his face as well.
His cultivation speed was simply too slow.
Although he had already advanced the Flowing Fire Art to the Minor Mastery realm, giving him a passable cultivation speed at the early stage of the Qi Refining Realm, it had clearly become ill-suited after reaching the middle stage of the Qi Refining Realm, growing slower and slower.
"The cultivation method's grade is too low."
After giving it some thought, he reached that conclusion.
This meant it was time to change cultivation methods.
He had originally thought that the high realm of Minor Mastery could make up for the innate shortcomings and inherent flaws of this low-grade cultivation method.
The facts proved that he had been overthinking it.
Innate deficiencies were difficult to make up for. Just like a person's Spirit Root—if it was poor, a little diligent cultivation could not compensate for it.
Heavenly materials and earthly treasures, fortuitous encounters, strength of heart and wisdom—having only one of them might still not be enough.
However, with his status as a registered guest elder, he now had the authority to exchange for middle-grade cultivation methods. Finding a suitable fire-element cultivation method should not be too difficult.
Early the next morning.
Lin Changheng arrived at the lineage's core grounds, Returning Peak Dojo. The Scripture Repository stood at the edge of the dojo, heavily guarded by a first-rank high-grade formation and not to be taken lightly.
Using a specially made token, Lin Changheng entered and directly stated his purpose.
He wanted to exchange for a middle-grade fire-element cultivation method.
After verifying his identity, the tall, thin steward decisively took out three jade slips and let Lin Changheng choose.
They were the Burning Fire Art, Flame Breath Technique, and Warm Sun Scripture.
Lin Changheng had not expected this. A flicker of surprise crossed his face. For a Qi Refining lineage to possess so many middle-grade cultivation methods of a single element was truly quite impressive.
Its collection could be considered rather extensive.
He immediately pressed the jade slips to his forehead and examined them one by one, discovering that each cultivation method only revealed an introduction and part of its opening content.
The rest was like a layer of mist, sealed by restrictions and impossible to peer into.
After a while, Lin Changheng had made his decision, but he still casually asked, "Senior, might there be any other fire-element cultivation methods?"
Who would have thought that as soon as he asked, the tall, thin steward visibly froze.
Lin Changheng happened to notice and froze as well.
He had only asked—was there really one?
"Wait here."
The tall, thin steward gave that instruction, then turned and busied himself for a while. Before long, he returned carrying an old booklet whose dust had been brushed away and handed it to Lin Changheng. At the same time, he introduced it.
"This is a heavily incomplete high-grade fire-element cultivation method. It is classified among the middle-grade methods, but I do not particularly recommend that you choose it. Its entry threshold is higher, and you will likely have to switch cultivation methods in the future."
Lin Changheng nodded, thanking the steward for his kind reminder before opening the book.
Departing Fire Night-Illuminating Guide.
Those five large characters entered his sight.
"The name carries a certain mysterious charm."
That was Lin Changheng's first impression. Unlike the earlier names such as "Burning Fire," "Warm Sun," and "Flame Breath," it was not so blunt and pale, without much deeper meaning.
Reading further, the opening introduction stated that an elder of the lineage, now deceased, had obtained it from elsewhere in his early years. It could originally have been cultivated to the Foundation Establishment Early Stage, but it had been divided between him and another person during a struggle, each taking half and neither obtaining the complete work.
This half could only be cultivated to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer!
The road ahead was severed. In the future, one could only switch cultivation methods or find the original text and continue from it. Those were the only two paths available.
"I'll choose this one."
Lin Changheng chuckled and told the steward his decision.
"You will not consider it further?"
The tall, thin steward still kindly reminded him.
"This cultivation method can be cultivated to the Qi Refining Seventh Layer. Limited by my Spirit Root, I will most likely stop there anyway. Rather than that, I might as well spend more time cultivating something stronger. Perhaps a miracle may yet appear."
Lin Changheng found an excuse and insisted on making the exchange.
"Very well."
The tall, thin steward no longer tried to dissuade him. He removed the restrictions on the old booklet's contents and copied them onto a jade slip. "It requires three hundred contribution points, and you must also swear a Dao oath never to reveal its contents."
"Alright."
Lin Changheng did as instructed.
By the time he emerged from the Scripture Repository, the contribution points he had accumulated over the past two years through pill refining and disposing of defective pills had basically been depleted, leaving him with only a little over twenty points.
But it was worth it—he had even gained more than he had expected!
A high-grade cultivation method was in his hands!
An incomplete high-grade cultivation method was still a high-grade cultivation method!
As for the Flame Breath Technique he had decided to replace before... sorry, not familiar!
Lin Changheng's heart burned with excitement.
As for the supposed difficulty of entering the cultivation method, it was not much of a problem for the comprehension enhanced by his current [First-Level Origin Treasure Seed].
And as for the cultivation path being cut off... by the time he reached the Qi Refining Seventh Layer, many years would have passed. Who knew what changes might occur during that time?
Worrying and fretting ahead of time was unwise.
He just needed to cultivate!
Lin Changheng entered the Departing Fire Night-Illuminating Guide in less than three days.
Cultivating within the Spirit Gathering Array as before, he found that each cycle's refinement speed was a sliver faster than even the Minor Mastery Flowing Fire Art.
"As expected of a high-grade cultivation method."
Lin Changheng sighed deeply. Its foundation was indeed profound.
Knock, knock, knock!
Someone was knocking at the door.
Other than several immortal seedlings of his own generation, Lin Changheng did not interact frequently with anyone else.
He rose and opened the door, only to see a tall, graceful figure radiating nobility.
"Fairy Dantai, it has been a long time."
Dantai Feiyue gave Lin Changheng a charming roll of her eyes. "Hasn't it been a long time thanks to Brother Lin's good graces?"
Seeing that he did not move aside, she could not help asking curiously, "Brother Lin, do you intend to keep blocking the doorway and refuse to let this little lady enter? Could it be... this is Brother Lin's way of receiving guests?"
Before you continue