Fugui's Gift of Gratitude

Lin Changheng took pleasure in the moment, instantly grasping the Princess's intent.

He couldn't help but cast a surprised glance at the woman; she was truly sharp as a tack.

"Brother Lin understands with a mere hint; you are indeed brilliant beyond compare. This little woman is filled with admiration."

Dantai Feiyue pursed her red lips and offered a smiling compliment. Yet, Lin Changheng detected a hint of teasing in her tone. If his ability to "understand with a mere hint" made him "brilliant beyond compare," then what did that make the person who had guided him?

In terms of wit, was she implying... that she was riding on top of him?

This little minx!

Lin Changheng feigned indignation, just about to do something to "punish" her, when Dantai Feiyue nimbly ducked away, already gracefully leaving her seat and heading out the door.

Only the crisp sound of her laughter, like pearls falling onto a jade plate, lingered in the room.

"Brother Lin, our conversation today was most delightful. Let us meet again beneath the western window..."

As the night descended, obscuring his view of her departure, Lin Changheng began to ponder the words the female cultivator had used to enlighten him.

Mid-grade alchemy, was it?

Perhaps, there really was a way now...

Lin Changheng had intended to find a moment to visit the General Affairs Hall to make inquiries.

Instead, he received news:

Xu Fugui had returned to the clan.

"Returning to the clan at a time like this? With the fighting on the front lines showing no signs of stopping, if Fugui has retreated, he must be either wounded or crippled... I hope it is only the former, merely recovering from injuries."

Thus, Lin Changheng decided to make time to visit Fugui first.

"Is Fugui doing well?"

Lin Changheng was respectfully ushered into the room by Xu Fugui's eldest son, Xu Yongcai, where he saw Xu Fugui lying on the bed to recuperate.

"Brother Lin!"

Seeing Lin Changheng, Xu Fugui was exceptionally agitated; he waved his hands wildly and struggled to sit up.

"Don't."

Lin Changheng set down the basket of spiritual fruits he had brought and pressed him down, preventing him from moving about.

Xu Fugui had no choice but to lie back obediently, though he thanked him incessantly.

Curious about his attitude, Lin Changheng asked a few questions and finally learned the truth.

At the time, the Xu Family and the Chen Family were locked in a fierce battle outside the valley. Xu Fugui, whose approach to spell-casting was unconventional, had stealthily ambushed and killed two fourth-level Qi Refining cultivators from the Chen Family.

Unexpectedly, he was spotted by an old man from the Chen Family, a sixth-level Qi Refining cultivator, who pursued the "sneaky rat" in a fit of rage.

Xu Fugui was startled; having no intention of fighting back, he picked a direction and ran.

In his memory, there should have been two sixth-level Qi Refining cultivators from the Xu Family in this area.

However, he found only a patch of ground plowed by artifacts and spells, with not a soul in sight.

The Chen Family elder caught up, approaching with a sinister grin.

With no other choice, Xu Fugui was forced to face him head-on. He didn't know how strong the man was until they clashed, and the realization shocked him.

After taking only two or three solid blows, Xu Fugui felt a tightness in his chest and shortness of breath; his blood surged, and he could no longer hold his ground.

This monster was too strong!

With no path left to escape and certain death awaiting him if he continued to fight, Xu Fugui gritted his teeth, shoved a pill into his mouth, and charged headlong into the poisonous miasma of the valley.

He vanished instantly.

The Chen Family elder, blinded by rage, swallowed a pill and followed him inside.

They chased each other for a long time.

At this moment, Xu Fugui's face showed lingering fear and the relief of one who had survived a catastrophe. "If not for the potent [Miasma-Clearing Pill] Brother Lin gave me to keep me going, I fear I would have truly perished in there. Although I am quite heavily wounded now, I have managed to save my life in the end."

"Oh?" Lin Changheng hadn't expected that his unintentional act would bear such fruit.

"Heh heh, but that old thief didn't have my luck. Although he managed to get out of the miasma without dying, he inhaled the poison and is bound to suffer greatly for it."

"It's not impossible that his cultivation will stagnate, or even regress due to the poison! It truly gave me a sense of satisfaction."

Xu Fugui's expression turned smug, then he became solemn. "That is why I must thank you for saving my life, Brother Lin."

Lin Changheng looked at Fugui and smiled. "Very well. Once you have fully recovered, I shall see exactly how you intend to thank me."

Suddenly, Xu Fugui called out, "Han Ling."

Before long, a smiling young woman with the gentle air of a small-town beauty walked in. "Did you call for me, Husband?"

"Go and fetch the items I instructed you to get earlier."

"Very well." Xu Hanling turned and walked out once more.

Lin Changheng watched the exchange between the couple with some confusion, but before long, he saw Xu Hanling return carrying an exquisite small wooden box, which she placed upon the table.

"Brother Lin, open it and take a look."

Xu Fugui bared his large teeth, winking and gesturing toward Lin Changheng.

"Alright, I shall see what good thing this is."

Lin Changheng never dragged his feet when doing things; he stood up directly, nodded toward the departing Xu Hanling, and reached out to open the box.

The moment he pried it open just a sliver, a faint scent of blood drifted into his nostrils.

The keen-sensed Lin Changheng detected it immediately.

Furthermore, based on the unique scent, it resembled the essence blood of a Rock Mountain Turtle.

Could it be...

He immediately threw the lid wide open.

A box nearly filled to the brim with essence blood was sealed inside.

A single glance revealed at least thirty vials!

"Brother Lin, how is it?"

Xu Fugui's laughter came from beside him.

"Not bad. In that case, I shall accept it."

Lin Changheng smiled. He truly needed this item, and there was no reason to decline or be overly polite about accepting it.

With only the two of them left in the room, Xu Fugui lowered his voice and said, "I have never mentioned this matter to anyone, not even my wives, concubines, or children."

"You have a heart, Fugui. However, how was this obtained? Did you happen to find a nest, or is there another channel?"

Lin Changheng pressed for an answer.

He especially hoped for the latter, as it would represent a new source rather than a one-time quota of essence blood.

"No, it was during Land Reclamation. We discovered a nest of Rock Mountain Turtles, and they were slaughtered by my clansmen. I originally intended to let the sects, noble clans, and the stationed forces of some powerful Foundation Establishment families at the Trade Hub take them, but I found an excuse to intercept them using spirit stones."

Xu Fugui replied truthfully.

Lin Changheng nodded slightly. "You did mention the Trade Hub to me before."

It was a gathering place for cultivators on the edge of the Wilderness, used for rest and trade.

Xu Fugui continued, "Brother Lin may not know, but the Trade Hub is far too popular these days. Ninety percent of the harvest from Land Reclamation must pass through there. It is not that they use their influence to coerce others, but rather that these factions have united to form a complete supply chain—from alchemy to artifact refining, from talisman making to formations, from spirit food to dharma robes, and everything in between; it is all encompassed within."

"What is even more brilliant is that as long as the Land Reclamation cultivators and families provide the corresponding primary materials, they not only receive spirit stones but can also purchase the finished dharma artifacts, pills, talismans, and so on—refined from those very materials—at a ten percent discount."

"Hiss... they can do that?"

Lin Changheng was stunned by this strategy. In this way, they could not only use Land Reclamation to sustain further Land Reclamation, but also ensure that the spiritual materials and herbs obtained from the Wilderness barely leaked out, falling entirely into the snare of the major powers!

Beyond that, the cultivators also stood to profit, gaining double the benefits on top of their Land Reclamation merits, which would surely keep their enthusiasm high.