By evening, dusk had closed in on all sides.
Nestled between mountains and water, wreathed in the glowing haze of sunset, the Xu Family compound offered a wondrous view unlike anything he had seen in his previous life.
Lin Changheng had no desire to linger. He had already returned to the small courtyard previously assigned to him at the Tide Listening Dojo.
It was fairly tidy and free of dust. Someone presumably cleaned it regularly.
The battle had consumed a good deal of his magical power, and he urgently needed to meditate and regulate his breathing. Only by keeping his magical power full at all times could he face anything in peak condition. That was a fundamental rule of playing it safe.
The Xu Family needed to hold a meeting to discuss and analyze the details of the attack, draw conclusions, and devise countermeasures. It was inappropriate for an outsider to remain, and Lin Changheng had no interest in getting involved, so he excused himself and returned alone.
It was late at night before Lin Changheng's magical power was fully replenished. He exhaled a breath of stale air and began inspecting his spoils.
He had put away the hammer Magic Artifact at the earliest opportunity. That way, even if the Xu Family later took the bandit cultivator's Storage Bag, he would not lose out too badly.
Unexpectedly, Shopkeeper Xu had lent him a hand by pointing out his contribution, securing him a Storage Bag as well.
Lin Changheng could hardly deny his contribution, and there was no reason to turn down something free, so he accepted it outright.
Still, he reflected that he had not killed an enemy above his own cultivation level. A little talent for magical combat was hardly earth-shattering or enough to draw excessive attention.
It would not overshadow his reputation for pill refinement, so he was not worried about being transferred to a reclamation team.
He was going to refine these pills, no matter what!
If the Xu Family insisted on other plans, he certainly would not be so hidebound as to obediently comply.
Soon, he had emptied everything out of the Storage Bag he had acquired.
The only valuables were three low-grade pills, a bottle of unknown poison, two low-grade talismans, and eight low-grade Spirit Stones.
For an early Qi Refining cultivator, that amounted to a fairly comfortable reserve.
There were also two yellowed booklets, titled "Earth Source Art" and "Aura Concealment Technique."
The rest were personal necessities, which Lin Changheng burned outright.
"I certainly won't take these pills rashly. I'll try selling them to the Lineage later and see whether they'll accept them."
"I can keep the talismans and poison. When I sell the pills, I can ask someone to appraise them while I'm there. Everything has a clear, legitimate provenance, so there's no harm in showing it. As for this earth-element cultivation art, I have no use for it. The Aura Concealment Technique, though, could help hide my cultivation after I break through."
"As for this Storage Bag, I'll ask about it too. Even secondhand, it's still worth several dozen Spirit Stones."
Soon, Lin Changheng had settled on a basic plan: turn as much as possible into cash.
He then took out the hammer Magic Artifact.
He had not had time to inspect it closely earlier. Now, one look made him shake his head.
The hammerhead was quite worn, with obvious scars and damage.
"In this condition, it might shatter outright in a slightly fiercer battle."
That was extremely dangerous.
If a Magic Artifact shattered midway through a clash, it could leave an opening. An enemy's Magic Artifact could accelerate through it before he had any chance to react, striking him directly and leaving him dead or injured.
"I'll have to sell it."
Lin Changheng made his decision.
"Besides, two offensive Magic Artifacts are no use to me. I'll trade for a defensive Magic Artifact later and use them in turn."
He was currently at the third level of Qi Refining. Only after breaking through to mid-Qi Refining would he be able to wield two low-grade Magic Artifacts or one mid-grade Magic Artifact simultaneously.
For now, it would merely be something to keep in reserve.
The next day, however, someone came knocking before he had even gone out. "Fellow Daoist Lin, are you in?"
Lin Changheng rose, already having some idea of what this was about. He opened the door to find a young Lineage member at the second level of Qi Refining.
"The elder requests your presence in the Pill Room."
"Sorry for the trouble. Please lead the way."
Just as I thought. Utterly composed, Lin Changheng followed him from the shore of Blackwater Lake toward the mountains behind it.
Many great halls had been built there.
Each served its own purpose.
Along the way, many Lineage members came and went, making the place quite lively.
The two headed straight into a great hall. The left side housed only pill chambers, while the right housed talisman and artifact chambers.
Five or six people were already waiting there, with an Elder of the Xu Family at their center.
His white hair was sparse, his gaunt face like pine bark. His cloudy eyes occasionally flashed with a keen light, like embers still burning in a furnace.
Lin Changheng knew this man. His name was Xu Qianyan, and he was one of the Xu Family's High-Grade Pill Masters.
He held an exalted position, ignored mundane affairs, devoted himself to the Pill Dao, and oversaw the Pill Masters.
Master Mo stood beside him. Seeing Lin Changheng arrive, he smiled and beckoned him over.
"Greetings, Chief. Greetings, Master Mo."
Lin Changheng stepped forward and saluted, neither servile nor overbearing.
Xu Qianyan glanced at Lin Changheng without any change in expression. He merely nodded, then said, "Let us begin, then."
"Very well."
Lin Changheng did not drag his feet either, nodding his agreement at once.
A Pill Master immediately led him into the passage on the left toward the Pill Room. Just then, a commotion rose from the other side of the hall.
He could faintly hear a jumble of voices saying things like "Success!" and "Congratulations!"
Lin Changheng turned with the others to look. A woman emerged from the opposite passage, and a group of Xu Family disciples immediately crowded around her.
Cloudlike tresses and a flowerlike face, a tall figure, and regal elegance.
Those three descriptions were most people's first impression of her.
Tantai Feiyue.
Her name surfaced directly in Lin Changheng's mind: a commandery princess from a mortal dynasty.
After ten years apart, this "bright pearl" had gathered no dust. Instead, her radiance had only grown more brilliant.
So brilliant that she had drawn a swarm of buzzing bees and butterflies.
Has she become a ranked Talisman Master? It seems she passed the assessment and gained the Xu Family's recognition...
Lin Changheng immediately formed a conjecture.
The next moment, Tantai Feiyue seemed to sense something amid the crowd around her. She raised her eyes, her bright gaze passing straight through the layers of people to meet his.
Their eyes met for several breaths.
Lin Changheng smiled faintly and cupped his hands in greeting.
Looking thoughtful, Tantai Feiyue nodded lightly and returned his greeting with a slight curtsy.
At once, quite a few Xu Family disciples around her followed her gaze, their eyes filled with wariness. Some even looked at him as though he were a sworn enemy.
Are you people insane?! You can get jealous over even this?! A bunch of fools with lust for brains!
Lin Changheng's cheek twitched slightly. He immediately turned toward the Pill Room with an expressionless face, while inwardly reflecting that this woman was far too dazzling.
And that meant trouble!
What he needed was steady cultivation and reliable progress.
His first priority was to avoid anyone who might bring trouble.
Men or women, the farther away, the better!
Boom!
The door to Pill Room C-5 rumbled shut, and Lin Changheng disappeared inside.
Dusk fell.
Lin Changheng returned to the great hall once more. The Pill Master guiding him held a pill box and stepped forward to report.
"Not bad. Congratulations, Pill Master Lin. You are now our Lineage's Registered Guest Advisor, entitled to the corresponding benefits. Naturally, you will also bear the corresponding duties! Our Lineage will not treat anyone poorly, so long as you have value!"
Xu Qianyan merely glanced at the pills before making his announcement.
Lin Changheng remained as still as an ancient well when he heard the first half.
At the second half, his eyes brightened slightly. "This junior is all ears!"
"From now on, our Lineage's mid-grade cultivation arts, mid-grade Magic Artifacts, mid-grade pills, the main regions of our mid-grade spirit veins, and so forth will all be available for you to redeem. Anything mid-grade is open to you, except for the Lineage's secret inheritances, which have separate requirements!"
"Also, during the Great Reclamation, you will not need to go to the Savage Wastes front lines to reclaim land. You may remain in the rear and refine pills in peace!"