In his sea of consciousness, the Origin Cauldron trembled faintly as azure light shimmered. A new emerald treasure seed bobbed up and down.
[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Seed · Spirit Snatch Transformation in Progress] [Spirit Snatch: 99/100] [Effect: Miscellaneous-grade demon beast bloodline, naturally endowed with wood affinity, possessing the innate talents Camouflage, Trapping Cage, Self-Healing. Once Spirit Snatch is complete, one may be chosen and refined into the body]
"Ah, that feels great!"
After receiving the information sent back by the treasure seed, Lin Changheng immediately felt refreshed in both body and mind.
"One try and I've already snatched ninety-nine points. The [Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Seed] is practically complete already. Ah, this feels amazing."
Lin Changheng's eyes shone with an unusual light. It was the satisfaction of watching a progress bar shoot almost all the way to full in an instant. Who wouldn't get a little hooked?
This also meant that he could complete the Spirit Snatch tonight and gain the treasure seed's blessing.
This speed was unprecedented—utterly exhilarating.
"So, which of the three talents should I choose?"
Lin Changheng began to think it over.
[Camouflage] was most likely used by the Wood Puppet Fox to blend into the forest, changing the color of its body to disappear into its surroundings and evade natural predators.
Lin Changheng's assessment was that it might come in handy, but probably wouldn't suit him all that well.
He had his doubts.
Besides, he was so cautious, disliked going out, avoided conflict and strife, and got along well with others. He probably wouldn't have any use for [Camouflage] in the near future.
As for [Trapping Cage], it was likely an innate method of control, forming a wooden cage or something similar to trap predators and prey.
Enhanced by the wood-type [Entanglement Art], it should be quite effective, so he could keep it as an option.
"Self-Healing!"
After giving it some thought, Lin Changheng's eyes flickered as he made his choice.
The Wood Puppet Fox was wood-type, and wood stretched on and on, brimming with vitality. It could nourish the body and nurture wounds.
It was an excellent way to stay alive.
"Once I complete the Spirit Snatch and gain [Self-Healing], tsk tsk, I'll feel even more secure and have one more thing to rely on in this cultivation world."
Thinking this, Lin Changheng took two bottles of blood essence—the raw materials for alchemy—out of his storage pouch.
"Absorb it!"
He couldn't wait any longer.
Whoosh!
[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Seed · Spirit Snatch Transformation in Progress] [Spirit Snatch: 100/100]
Then, as Lin Changheng watched in anticipation, azure light flickered at the mouth of the cauldron, and the solid emerald treasure seed instantly split into three illusory seed-shapes.
[Wood Puppet Fox Treasure Seed · First Tier] [Choose one innate demon race talent to refine into the body: Camouflage, Trapping Cage, Self-Healing]
"Refine [Self-Healing]!"
Without hesitation, Lin Changheng activated the third illusory seed.
An ineffable energy and Dao resonance emerged from the two discarded talents and flowed into the [Self-Healing] seed.
[Acquired: Self-Healing Strange Art · Path Glimpse]
The next instant, an indescribably pleasant sensation welled up, as if he had soaked in a hot spring from head to toe. He could hardly keep himself from moaning.
[Effect: Initially gain the ability to self-heal; minor wounds repair quickly]
"I need to test it and see just how far this initial self-healing ability can go."
Crack!
Lin Changheng impatiently smashed the teacup in his hand, picked up a shard, and ran it across the pad of his finger.
A long, narrow wound appeared at once, and blood welled up from the split flesh.
"Ow, that actually hurts."
He complained without thinking, then looked at the wound and focused his thoughts. A miraculous scene unfolded: the edges of the wound began to draw together.
The bleeding stopped, the split flesh joined, and the cut healed, leaving it no different from before—except that the skin over the wound seemed a little more tender.
Fortunately, Lin Changheng was afraid of pain and had no inclination toward self-harm. Otherwise, he would surely have tested the limits of this [Self-Healing Strange Art]...
By now, Lin Changheng's Wood Spirit Root had also quietly grown to ten wisps. One more step, and it would break into the ranks of the Lower-Grade Spirit Root.
A few days later.
Lin Changheng saw Dantai Feiyue off, then turned and spotted a gift basket on the stone table.
It had been sent by Dantai Feiyue, but it wasn't a congratulatory gift for some happy occasion of his.
With the help of the Premium Grade pills Lin Changheng had provided, she had finally broken through to the fourth level of the Qi Refining Realm.
She had become a mid-stage cultivator.
Remembering the source of her success, she had come especially to thank him.
Lin Changheng had wanted to refuse.
First, they were both Immortal Seedlings, bound by their shared time as contemporaries. Later, they had become friends, as well as allies who helped one another. What were a few small favors between them?
Second, though he had helped Dantai Feiyue, he had benefited from her as well. She had provided the blood essence of a [Rock Mountain Turtle] every month without fail; they had each gotten what they needed.
So Lin Changheng told her there was no need and declined the gift.
"Is that so?"
Dantai Feiyue carried an air of imperial majesty in every gesture, dignified and graceful. Sitting in her chair, she turned her starry eyes toward Lin Changheng and teased him with feigned nonchalance. "Then this humble girl will respectfully obey. I'll take the gift basket back, and I hope that when the time comes, Brother Lin won't..."
At the same time, she made as if to reach for the basket with her slender, fair hand.
Hearing the first half of her sentence, Lin Changheng didn't fall for her teasing. He reached over the basket, gently nudged Dantai Feiyue's hand aside, and lifted the brocade cloth covering it.
"Huh?"
Dantai Feiyue's red lips were still moving, her teasing words unfinished, when she saw Lin Changheng refuse to play along with her script. Her starry eyes widened in surprise, and her proud, high chest heaved sharply.
She had been repeatedly outplayed by Lin Changheng. Though the mortal emperor had once issued decree after decree praising her as "brilliantly gifted, ingenious and wise, peerlessly clever; openhearted and unrestrained by convention, a truly bold and forthright soul; moreover, outstanding among all, noble and self-possessed, a heroine among women," she now found herself at a loss.
Dantai Feiyue had met plenty of remarkable men, but Lin Changheng was one of a kind.
Even she couldn't make sense of him. Her past experience in handling people and the methods of the imperial household were completely ineffective.
A sense of defeat began to take root in her heart.
"So this is... the cultivation world? Or is he simply too unusual?"
But Lin Changheng didn't notice the changes in the woman cultivator's expression at all. His eyes were fixed on the gift basket.
Inside were twelve bottles of talisman ink, filling it to the brim.
Usually there were only four.
"This much..."
Only then did Lin Changheng look back at Dantai Feiyue. He cupped his hands and asked with a smile, "Immortal Maiden, why are there so many more? Please tell me."
Seeing how courteous he was, Dantai Feiyue muttered inwardly, "What a magnanimous man," then pursed her red lips and replied, "A month ago, this humble girl helped two talisman masters deal with a few minor problems. Here—this is their way of thanking me."
"They asked me to purchase their share of this talisman ink for you. Mm, they'll do the same from now on."
"Sorry for the trouble, Immortal Maiden."
Lin Changheng's expression turned solemn as he thanked her sincerely.
"Does Brother Lin want this humble girl to repeat what he said just now, to test how good my memory is?"
Dantai Feiyue blinked her starry eyes and smiled.
She was clearly referring to Lin Changheng's earlier refusal of her gift.
Lin Changheng understood, and laughed as he accepted it.
After the woman cultivator left, Lin Changheng immediately began the Spirit Snatch of the [Rock Mountain Turtle] blood essence.
Whoosh!
[Rock Mountain Turtle Treasure Seed · Spirit Snatch Transformation in Progress] [Spirit Snatch: 27/100]
"It really is slow."
Even Lin Changheng couldn't help complaining, though he took some comfort in knowing that he would be able to speed it up a little next time.
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