Chapter 128: Heretical Inheritance

This kind of Treasure would also be very beneficial to the Profound Water Turtle.

But Li Chang’an pushed its head down.

"I can’t let you eat this. If you eat it, what will I use to trade for the Profound Crystal? Do you still want to advance?"

The Profound Water Turtle naturally understood the stakes. It could only cast a reluctant glance at the flower, as if gazing at a lover from whom it had been separated for many years.

Finally, it smacked its lips and retracted its head.

Li Chang’an couldn’t help but smile.

"Don’t worry, there are plenty of opportunities out there. We might run into an even better Water Element Treasure in the future."

With the guidance from his divinations, he wasn’t worried about finding fortuitous encounters.

After confirming the strange flower was completely undamaged, Li Chang’an carefully put it away and continued to inspect the other Treasures in the Storage Pouch.

A moment later, his expression shifted slightly as he took out an iridescent Treasure Lotus.

Li Chang’an had seen this Treasure Lotus before.

It was a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

"A Seven-leafed Colored Lotus!"

Li Chang’an frowned, his eyes fixed on the Treasure Lotus.

This Seven-leafed Colored Lotus was clearly damaged. Only five leaves remained, and even its stem was injured.

It looked identical to the Colored Lotus that Tang Suran had given Gu Shanxing!

Even its aura was the same!

’Could it be that Gu Shanxing was killed by Lu Yuanji?’

Li Chang’an furrowed his brow in thought.

Unfortunately, Lu Yuanji was already dead, so there was no way to ask him.

Still, the possibility was high.

After all, Gu Shanxing was at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer. As a Foundation Establishment Disciple, his Magic and Magical Artifacts were exceptional, so his strength certainly surpassed that of an ordinary Ninth-Layer Qi Refining Cultivator.

The one who killed him was either a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator or an old monster like Lu Yuanji, who had accumulated power at the Qi Refining Ninth Layer for many years.

’To think that this Seven-leafed Colored Lotus would end up in my hands after all.’

Li Chang’an was filled with emotion.

He had originally thought he had no fate with this Treasure Lotus.

But looking at it now, it seemed their fate just hadn’t arrived yet.

’This Seven-leafed Colored Lotus might be damaged, but it can still increase the success rate of Foundation Establishment by ten percent. If I can’t find a better Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object later, I’ll just use this one.’

Li Chang’an felt he could probably find something better.

But in any case, having this Seven-leafed Colored Lotus served as a safety net.

He carefully put it away and continued to inspect the other Treasures.

Soon, a Spirit Medicine appeared in his hand. It was blood-red all over, covered in scales, and resembled a blood dragon.

The Blood Dragon Vine!

’So he was the one who bought the second Blood Dragon Vine that day.’

Holding the Blood Dragon Vine, Li Chang’an recalled the day of the auction.

At the time, he had felt that the Cultivator who bought the second vine was somewhat familiar and had thought it might be an old acquaintance.

Thinking back now, that sense of familiarity came from the other Cultivators of Black Wind Mountain.

He had killed quite a few Tribulation Cultivators from Black Wind Mountain, and they had all been tainted with Lu Yuanji’s aura.

’What a coincidence!’

Li Chang’an was once again struck by the turn of events.

Of the four Blood Dragon Vines from that day, two had ended up in his hands.

Furthermore, this wasn’t the only main ingredient for Foundation Establishment in Lu Yuanji’s Storage Pouch.

He had been plotting his Foundation Establishment for many years and had already collected the other two main ingredients: Dream Soul Grass and Purple Jade Ginseng!

’The quality of this Purple Jade Ginseng is a bit worse than the one I have, but this Dream Soul Grass is better quality than mine!’

Although both could be used for refining a Foundation Establishment Pill, Li Chang’an naturally preferred the one with higher quality.

According to legend, high-quality main and auxiliary medicines could cause a Foundation Establishment Pill to be upgraded into a High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill!

A normal Foundation Establishment Pill could increase the success rate by twenty percent.

A High-quality Foundation Establishment Pill, however, could increase it by twenty-five percent.

Don’t look down on that extra five percent.

Often, that five percent could be the deciding factor!

’I can’t believe it. Not only have I gathered all three main ingredients for the Foundation Establishment Pill, but I even have an extra set!’

Li Chang’an carefully stored away these three main ingredients.

Aside from the main ingredients, Lu Yuanji’s Storage Pouch also contained a large quantity of auxiliary medicines for the Foundation Establishment Pill.

Li Chang’an took a careful inventory.

He finally confirmed it. There were enough auxiliary medicines!

In other words, he had gathered all the main and auxiliary ingredients. All that was missing was a Tier Two Demon Core!

’Unfortunately, Lu Yuanji didn’t manage to get a Tier Two Demon Core either.’

Li Chang’an sighed.

’It makes sense, though. If Lu Yuanji had a Demon Core, he would have found someone to refine a Foundation Establishment Pill long ago.’

’After I reach Qi Refining Perfection, if I still haven’t obtained a Tier Two Demon Core, I’ll try asking the Eldest Miss. After all, she wants to cultivate a new Foundation Establishment cultivator for the Zheng Family.’

Li Chang’an mused.

Zheng Qingqing wanted to cultivate a Foundation Establishment expert to watch over the Marketplace in her stead.

During this time, she would surely be collecting materials for the Foundation Establishment Pill as well.

With her status as an Honored Guest Elder of the Ten Thousand Treasures Tower, she might have a way to obtain a Tier Two Demon Core.

Even if she couldn’t acquire one, she herself was a Foundation Establishment Great Cultivator. She could easily venture deep into the Black Dragon Mountain Range outside the city and hunt a Tier Two Demon Beast herself!

’When the time comes, I can provide all the materials except the Tier Two Demon Core and cooperate with her on the Alchemy.’

Li Chang’an thought for a moment. This was the most reliable method.

Tier Two Demon Cores were indeed difficult to come by.

After all, whether it was Yellow Crane Mountain, the Three Great Sects, or the Seven Great Noble Families, they all wanted to cultivate more Foundation Establishment experts.

Normally, Golden Core Masters almost never made an appearance.

All sorts of major affairs were decided by the Foundation Establishment Great Cultivators of the various powers.

Because of this, nearly every Tier Two Demon Core was watched like a hawk and would never appear at an auction.

’Besides the main and auxiliary medicines for the Foundation Establishment Pill, there are quite a few other Spirit Medicines. This guy really was a Spirit Doctor.’

With a thought, a Jade Scroll appeared in Li Chang’an’s hand.

Within this Jade Scroll was a Tier One Top Grade Spirit Doctor inheritance!

He gave it a cursory glance and found that some of the content in the Spirit Doctor inheritance was similar to that of a Spirit Plant Master’s inheritance.

It even had similarities to an Alchemist’s inheritance.

All of them contained information on how to identify Spirit Medicines.

’The legendary "All Paths Return to One" really isn’t just an empty phrase.’

Li Chang’an decided he would look over this Spirit Doctor inheritance when he had time.

He had no desire to be a doctor, but learning a little more couldn’t hurt him. He might find a use for it someday.

Inside the Storage Pouch, besides the Spirit Doctor inheritance, there was another one.

With a thought, Li Chang’an took that inheritance out.

"A Tier One Top Grade, Skin Painting Technique inheritance!"

This Skin Painting Technique was an extremely sinister one among the Hundred Skills of Cultivation Immortality.

Li Chang’an had heard of it long ago.

This was because the skill had once been brought to the Mortal Realm by some Immortal, leading to the appearance of a very bizarre type of creature: the Skin Painting Demon!

According to legend, that Demon would peel off a person’s skin, drape it over itself to disguise itself as a normal human, and then use that identity to continue harming others.

When Li Chang’an was a child, the elders in his village often told him these stories.

Thinking back now, many of the eerie legends of demons and ghosts in the Mortal Realm were caused by Immortal Dao Skills that had been brought down to the mortal world.

’That human skin of Zhang Qiaoshan was probably made by Lu Yuanji using the Skin Painting Technique.’

Li Chang’an recalled the bizarre scene of Lu Yuanji shedding his human skin earlier.

He had to admit, although the Skin Painting Technique was sinister, it was indeed very useful.

He had interacted with Lu Yuanji multiple times, yet he had never once noticed anything wrong.