Time flew like a shuttle, and three months passed in the blink of an eye.
The Savage Wastes ran with blood beneath foul winds, the outside world seethed with unrest, and life within the Xu Family was no longer as secure and peaceful as before.
Instead, a grim, oppressive atmosphere hung over everything.
Even after the Xu Family's reclamation team had suffered losses in the swamp, things had never been like this.
Under its influence, everyone coming and going within the family hurried about with somber faces, intent only on their work. Leisure and amusement were rarely seen.
By now, however, Lin Changheng had no attention to spare for any of it. After finishing a batch of [Miasma-Dispelling Pills], which the Xu Family had recently added to its production requirements, he hurried to the General Affairs Hall to collect what he needed for his assignment before returning.
He immediately opened the long wooden box, revealing two kinds of Defective Pills. Anticipation filled Lin Changheng's eyes as he connected his thoughts to the Origin Cauldron and swept his hand over them.
Whoosh!
Whoosh!
Every trace of residual blood essence in the failed and inferior pills was drawn out at once.
Within his sea of consciousness, radiant clouds surged from the mouth of the Origin Cauldron, lending the scene a hint of an immortal paradise.
Once everything subsided, two brilliantly shining treasure seeds, one scarlet and one emerald, appeared in his vision, utterly solid.
[Fire Crow Treasure Seed · Fourth Stage] [Can further refine the Demon Race innate talent: Fire Control]
"Another half year, nearly. Finally! Refine it into me right now!"
Lin Changheng had waited far too long. Fortunately, he had patience enough, and he murmured the command without hesitation.
The scarlet treasure seed swayed as it fell, then instantly vanished into his mind.
An unprecedented stream of scorching liquid spread from his soul throughout his body. Though its heat was clearly terrifying, it brought him an indescribably pleasant sensation.
[Acquired through refinement: Poison Transformation Art · True Ascension] [Effect: profound control over ordinary flames; greatly amplifies fire techniques]
He immediately went out into the courtyard and formed a Fireball Technique with a hand seal. The flame in his hand began expanding and shrinking, becoming as small as an infant's fist and as large as a millstone.
He could even shape it into all manner of forms.
A flying bird, a slithering snake, a soaring eagle-it transformed endlessly.
More importantly, the fireball's flames no longer hissed outward and scattered sparks as they usually did. Instead, they were utterly tranquil.
It looked nothing like a volatile flame, but rather a gentle ball of water.
Yet only Lin Changheng knew the terror contained within!
Never mind someone at the same cultivation level, the fourth layer of Qi Refining-even those at the Qi Refining Fifth Layer or sixth layer could only be left battered and bedraggled by this technique. One careless moment could even leave them injured or dead.
The flames swaying gently in the breeze illuminated a face whose eyes shone with intense excitement.
Nothing in this world could bring greater happiness than such steady, sure progress!
Lin Changheng even had the feeling that he could now refine ten pills in a single batch!
This change came from the benefits it brought to his Pill Dao!
Moreover, two of those pills would be premium-quality!
Although the proportion of premium pills seemed unchanged, it would actually save an enormous amount of time and effort!
Previously, refining ten portions of pills had taken two days. Now, he could finish them in a single batch!
Both his efficiency and his yield would double!
"The next batch will tell!"
Next, he continued by refining into himself the Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed whose Spirit Seizure had succeeded.
[Greenwood Snake Treasure Seed · Third Stage]
His [Poison Transformation Art · Spirit Motion] also advanced into the [Clarity] realm.
Its effects transformed as well.
[Bodily resistance and tolerance to poisons; rapidly refines low-grade toxins]
"Not bad."
This time, Lin Changheng had no intention of seeking out poisonous substances or poisons to test it. To see any effect, he would probably have to use mid-grade toxins...
It was not the ten thousand safe outcomes he feared, but the one mishap...
So he did not dare test it lightly.
As for the [Origin Treasure Seed], just as Lin Changheng had suspected, its Spirit Seizure speed had indeed increased.
[Spirit Seizure: 62/100]
It had increased by eight points.
The pace was gratifying.
He had now fully experienced the benefits of comprehension. It had an immense effect on cultivation methods, techniques, and skills alike.
After all, this was one of the foundations that made humans the foremost among all living beings. It was only fitting!
By now, Lin Changheng's fire spiritual root and Wood Spiritual Root had transformed once more, reaching thirteen strands and nine strands respectively!
Another half month passed before a few whispers began to emerge from the Xu Family's upper ranks.
They vaguely pointed toward the cause of the abrupt change in the family's atmosphere.
As soon as the news emerged, it stirred Lin Changheng's curiosity.
He needed to understand what was happening. Only with a clear picture could he rest easy.
For this concerned not only the Xu Family, but also the security of the place where he had long resided. After all, when the nest was overturned, how could any egg remain intact?
Whether the Xu Family could remain standing determined whether he ought to take to his heels.
It was important.
Almost immediately, Lin Changheng learned a vague version of events from Xu Fugui, though it was enough for him to piece together some of the circumstances.
His heart immediately settled.
After its previous losses, the Xu Family's team had adopted a more restrained strategy in its subsequent reclamation efforts.
They advanced steadily rather than rashly.
They minimized risks as much as possible and preserved their effective strength.
Then, half a month ago, while clearing out demon beasts, members of the Xu Family had accidentally discovered some [azure spirit artemisia] seedlings scattered near a demon beast's lair.
After the observant family members reported this, an elder skilled in surveying immediately went to investigate. He discovered that although the soil looked ordinary on the surface, it was blackish red deeper down. Further digging revealed that this influence had spread from elsewhere, leading him to a preliminary conclusion: a mid-grade or better tract of Spirit Land must exist nearby!
When the news returned, the Xu Family High Council was immediately exhilarated.
Azure spirit artemisia was a Low-Grade First-Tier spirit herb of limited value. But if there was Spirit Land, its value would be as far apart as heaven and earth. The spirit herbs that had grown there for years without being harvested alone would be worth a considerable sum of Spirit Stones.
If they occupied it and fully developed it, they could greatly strengthen the family's foundations.
With a little luck, this Spirit Land might even be capable of nurturing high-grade spirit herbs!
Its value would more than quadruple again!
The subsequent surveying also went quite smoothly, confirming that this tract of Spirit Land lay within a valley!
However, poisonous miasma filled that valley year-round, and cultivators could not enter lightly.
The Xu Family's patriarch, Qian Gang, immediately made the decision on his sole authority. "Even if we must pay a price, we will secure this Spirit Land!"
At the same time, he strictly ordered everyone to keep their mouths shut.
He also distributed a pill formula and ordered the family's Pill Masters to refine large quantities of [Miasma-Dispelling Pills]!
Lin Changheng had his suspicions but could not verify them, so he simply refined pills.
Still, he had gone early to reserve the assignment for disposing of this pill's failed and inferior batches.
Fortunately, over the years, Lin Changheng had followed the principle of forging goodwill far and wide and treating others kindly, leaving an excellent impression on Xu Xuzhong, the steward of the General Affairs Hall-
Not only did he have a strong sense of belonging to the family and show great loyalty, he also carried out his assignments meticulously, completed them on time, and never caused any trouble.
Another Pill Master had missed assignment deadlines several times because he was busy refining pills, giving Xu Xuzhong repeated headaches. Each time, Lin Changheng had stepped in without asking for anything in return, resolving the difficulty and relieving Xu Xuzhong's worries over his internal family assessment.
Although Xu Xuzhong could not strip that Pill Master of his assignment over such minor matters, he had hinted many times that whenever new assignments became available, Lin Changheng would have his pick if he wanted them, with every request granted!
Lin Changheng had also presented him with several pills approaching premium quality at an opportune moment for his son's cultivation, further cementing their relationship.
Thus, the assignment to dispose of this new pill's Defective Pills could belong to no one but Lin Changheng!
Lin Changheng was brimming with anticipation.
After all, this pill was being refined for the first time. Many of the family's Pill Masters lacked Lin Changheng's comprehension and fire-control methods. On their first attempt, they would be unfamiliar with it and need to feel their way forward. Added to that, the huge quantity required would make them prone to fatigue while refining, so they were bound to produce plenty of failed and inferior pills!
He could reap a windfall all at once!
And one of this pill's raw ingredients was [Wooden Puppet Fox] blood essence.
It was a new kind of mixed-grade demon beast.
What traits might it possess?