Lin Changâsheng proceeded to âtake outâ all the rest of the stuff.
Three registersâa Golden Yuan Technique, a Wind Splitting Slash, and a Gale Flash.
Four talismans: one Water Arrow Talisman, one Earth Armor Talisman, two Fireball Talismans, nineteen spirit stones, plus a pile of herbs, demon beast horns, and other assorted materials.
"The biggest haul this time has got to be the nine Qi Condensing Pills, twenty-five Dragon Blood Pills, and nineteen spirit stones. With all this, Iâll definitely break through to Qi Refining Fourth Layer!"
"When that happens, Iâll be a mid-stage Qi Refining cultivator!"
Just thinking about it made Lin Changâshengâs eyes light up with anticipation.
[Detected Cultivation Immortality Technique: Fire Element Technique. You may simplify it by consuming one spirit stone. Simplify?]
[Detected Cultivation Immortality Technique: Fire Bomb Technique. You may simplify it by consuming one spirit stone. Simplify?]
Just then, two red notifications popped up on Lin Changâshengâs system panel.
"Simplify."
Lin Changâsheng clicked confirm right away.
[Great Dao is Simple: Simplifying Fire Element Technique... Simplification complete... Fire Element Technique = Fire Warming!]
[Great Dao is Simple: Simplifying Fire Bomb Technique... Simplification complete... Fire Bomb Technique = Playing with Fire!]
"Huh?"
"Fire Element Technique = Fire Warming?"
"Fire Bomb Technique = Playing with Fire?"
Staring at the simplified results, Lin Changâsheng blinked. This was way too simple. All heâd have to do is get some firewood and keep the fire goingâpull up to the stove, and heâs training.
Probably wonât be long before Fire Element Technique and Fire Bomb Technique reach Perfection. When they do, his powerâs definitely going to soar!
"Since theyâre simplified, I better make good use of the time and try it out!"
Lin Changâsheng thought this and immediately headed for the kitchen. He brought over some firewood, set up a fire bowl in the yard, and started a fire. Then, he sat to the side and began warming himself.
While toasting in front of the fire, he picked up a pair of fire tongs and started poking around in the coals.
Fire Element Technique experience points +1!
Fire Bomb Technique experience points +1!
Fire Element Technique experience points +1!
Fire Bomb Technique experience points +1!
.......
"At this rate, itâll only take a few days for Fire Element Technique and Fire Bomb Technique to reach Perfection!"
Watching the red notifications continuously pop up on his panel, Lin Changâsheng felt completely satisfied.
"I can increase Fire Element Technique experience points by warming myself, and take Qi Condensing Pills at the same time!"
Lin Changâsheng thought for a second, mulling it over in his heart.
Given that he now had the Qi Condensing Pills, leveling up had to come first. He could work on refining the medicinal power while training Fire Element Technique; absolutely efficient.
Lin Changâsheng took out a Qi Condensing Pill and studied it closely. With his current alchemy experience, he could easily tell if it was authentic or laced with poison.
"Ying ying ying!"
The little white fox sat beside him, staring at the pill in Lin Changâshengâs hand, letting out an eager cry, those big eyes full of anticipation.
"You canât have this. Youâre still too little and weakâthis would blow you up for sure!"
"Wait until I get stronger, then Iâll get something for you."
Lin Changâsheng shot Xiaobai a glance as he spoke.
"Ying ying ying!"
Seeing that Lin Changâsheng wasnât handing over the pill, Little White Fox pouted, burrowing into its tiny bedding and wagging its big fluffy tail outside, as if mocking Lin Changâsheng.
Lin Changâsheng pretended not to notice and tossed the pill into his mouth.
The pill melted instantly, sliding down his throat and turning into a rush of heat. The warmth surged through his meridians, spreading all over his body. Lin Changâsheng immediately ran the Fire Element Technique, continuously absorbing the massive medicinal power.
After half an hourâ
The Qi Condensing Pillâs energy was completely absorbed by Lin Changâsheng. He could feel the magical power in his dantian get a whole lot denser.
He got an idea and checked his system panel.
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage (Third Layer 1809/4000)]
"Pretty much as I expected. That was an 800-point cultivation experience boost. Three more Spiritual Energy Pills and Iâll easily top 4000 experience points! Letâs keep going!"
Staring at his panel, excitement bubbled up inside Lin Changâsheng. He pulled out another Spiritual Energy Pill and popped it into his mouth.
Time passedâ
After two hoursâ
[Cultivation: Qi Refining Stage (Third Layer 3999/4000)]
"Just a smidge left and Iâm stuck?"
"Is it because my foundationâs not quite there yet?"
Staring at the cultivation experience value, Lin Changâsheng wore a contemplative expression.
This was just like the time he was trying to level up from First-Class to Martial Arts Grandmaster.
Even though he hadnât officially broken through to the 4th Layer, absorbing three Qi Condensing Pills and reaching 3999 experience points meant his magical power was vastly improved.
Basically, he was at the Peak of Qi Refining Third Layer.
......
South of Jinyong City.
Sixty miles out.
There was a plaza covering dozens of miles, paved in white stone and ringed by more than a dozen hallsâa recruitment site for the Liuyun Immortal Sect.
Right now, from the north side of Jinyong City, two fifty-zhang-long flying boats sped across the sky, hovering over the square before ten-plus ethereal cultivators landed gracefully on the plaza.
Two formidable cultivators in the lead casually waved, and the massive spiritual boats instantly shrank into beams of light, vanishing into their sleeves.
The two in front: an elder, rosy-faced with a bulbous, wine-red nose, huge wine gourd swinging by his waist.
The other, a woman in her thirties, dressed in crimson, with elegant features and lingering charm.
At this moment, the woman gazed toward distant Jinyong City, her face worried. "Senior Brother Li, I hope this time we can recruit a few disciples with real talent, or else..."
"Yeah, amongst the Five Great Immortal Sects in the Southern Realm, we Liuyun Immortal Sect are the only ones who canât send out a decent disciple... Just thinking about the Great Five Immortal Sects gathering in ten years gives me a headache!"
"If this time is another bust, those other sects are going to roast us alive!"
The red-nosed elderâs face was filled with deep concern.
Li Jiantang, as one of the six Grand Elders of Liuyun Immortal Sect, had come with Elder Ji Ruyan specifically to find promising youths for discipleship.
Meanwhile, the other four elders split up in pairs, some heading for Chu Kingdom, some for Jin Kingdom. All the sect elders were out in full force for a successful recruitment this time.
At that momentâ
Behind Li Jiantang and Ji Ruyan, over a dozen Liuyun Immortal Sect disciples hung their heads, faces awash with guilt.
.......
Jinyong City.
A hundred miles away, in a secluded valleyâ
Three shabby cottages sat hidden in the depths.
An emaciated, sallow-faced middle-aged man, Qi Refining Fifth Layer, with a thumb-sized purple birthmark on his brow, stood outside the huts, hands clasped behind his back.
"Strange. Third brother went to the Trade Marketâwhy isnât he back yet? Still selling those pills?"
He frowned in the direction of Jinyong City, muttering to himself.
"Maybe something held him up on the road?"
The man mused quietly, then turned and stepped into the cottage, preparing to start another batch of pills.
......
Lin Changâsheng was lounging in his courtyard.
There was a fire bowl in front of him, and he tossed in more wood from time to time.
At the same timeâ
He rubbed his belly with his left hand.
Golden Bell Shield experience points +1!
In his right hand, he wielded the fire tongs, turning charcoal with playful easeâPlaying with Fire, also warming himself at the same time.
Fire Element Technique experience points +1!
Fire Bomb Technique experience points +1!
"Outer Heaven Meteor wants me to look at stars. But the stars are always in the sky, and all I see is white clouds anywayânot a single experience point. What a waste!"
As Lin Changâsheng messed with the fire and rubbed his belly, he couldnât help but feel a little regretful.
"Hmm? They just said I had to look at starsâthey didnât specify what kind. Maybe I can just draw one and look at that?"
All of a sudden, a bold idea sprang to Lin Changâshengâs mind.