Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

As Lin Changsheng approached, the classically beautiful girl at the foot of the mountain seemed to sense something and looked up.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, we've finally waited for you."

The young girl, still dressed in a classic white feather dress, showed a hint of joy in her beautiful eyes when she saw Lin Changsheng return.

"It's been many years. Fellow Daoist Nangong, your cultivation has improved greatly. Congratulations."

Lin Changsheng smiled calmly, clasped his hands in congratulations, and then asked, "May I ask what brings Fellow Daoist Nangong here?"

Seeing Lin Changsheng's calm reaction, Nangong Qingtan was slightly taken aback, her beautiful eyes flashing with a deep emotion.

"Fellow Daoist Lin's indifferent attitude doesn't seem like sincere congratulations, nor does it resemble that of a comrade who went through hardships together in the past. Could it be that Fellow Daoist Lin has some dissatisfaction with my Nangong family?"

Nangong Qingtan chuckled, looked over, and asked in a half-joking manner.

“Fellow Daoist Nangong is joking. I am of humble status and would never dare to associate myself with the Nangong family. Back then, I was merely doing my duty for someone who paid me.”

Faced with Nangong Qingtan's question, Lin Changsheng remained calm and answered fluently.

"Fellow Daoist Lin is now a Foundation Establishment cultivator. If he is still of low status, then there are probably not many noble people left in the entire Thousand Crane Immortal City."

For some reason, when Nangong Qingtan came today, she rambled on and on, never getting to the point.

Seeing this, Lin Changsheng invited the woman into Changchun Peak and then stopped talking, only continuing to add spiritual tea for Nangong Qingtan.

"Fellow Daoist Lin and I have been through thick and thin together. I'll be frank with you, my Nangong family would like to invite you to make talismans for our clan. What do you think?"

Before long, Nangong Qingtan smiled gracefully, her beautiful eyes sparkling with a lively light, and she took a sip of spiritual tea with her almond lips.

The scene froze for a few moments after he finished speaking.

"I'm sorry, but I'm only a beginner at the second-tier talisman master level. My skills are too rudimentary to be of any use. Fellow Daoist Nangong, you should look for another job."

Upon hearing the purpose of Nangong Qingtan's visit, Lin Changsheng was somewhat surprised. He carefully considered his words and spoke tactfully.

The Nangong family's recruitment this time was rather abrupt and unexpected.

However, Lin Changsheng is basically satisfied with his current situation and has no intention of relying on any powerful force in the short term.

In comparison, joining the Nangong family would only be icing on the cake, but it would add more constraints and wouldn't be worthwhile.

"Fellow Daoist Lin really doesn't care about old friendships at all, rejecting my sister's request without even thinking."

Nangong Qingtan spoke in a calm tone, but her expression carried a hint of resentment.

"I'm sorry, other things are fine, but the matter of making and offering talismans is out of the question. I'm just used to being free and undisciplined and don't want to be bound by family rules."

Lin Changsheng's tone carried a hint of apology.

He didn't mind maintaining a good relationship with the Nangong family, as it might be helpful in his future cultivation journey.

However, joining the Nangong family as a retainer is equivalent to being labeled as part of the 'Nangong family,' which does not align with Lin Changsheng's long-term, stable development philosophy.

Lin Changsheng also served as a talisman maker and worshipper.

Although the Xi Danhe family is not large and cannot be compared with the Nangong family.

But for cultivators like him who joined halfway through their cultivation journey, their circumstances were generally similar.

They find it difficult to gain the genuine trust of the family's core leadership, yet they are labeled as family members to outsiders, making them vulnerable to targeting by hostile forces.

The Nangong family may provide him with abundant resources, but they will not offer him any assistance in achieving his Core Formation in the future.

They might even suppress him and hinder him from forming his core.

Only those who achieve the Core Formation stage in the Nangong family can appear among the direct descendants of the Nangong family.

Outsiders can at most condense a 'false elixir,' which is still a great blessing.

Lin Changsheng had already seen this through.

Unless Lin Changsheng has no intention of condensing his golden core in this lifetime, he will definitely accept the recruitment of the Nangong family without hesitation.

"Alright, since that's the case, I won't force Fellow Daoist Lin."

Nangong Qingtan sighed, showing her disappointment, but then changed the subject and said, "Since Fellow Daoist Lin has said so, I do have a small matter to discuss."

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, please speak."

Looking at Nangong Qingtan's beautiful eyes blinking slightly, with a smile in them, Lin Changsheng suddenly had a familiar feeling.

His expression seemed somewhat similar to that of Nangong Qingtan and Su Xuyan when they first visited.

"Just like back then, we need Fellow Daoist Lin to save a second-tier spirit bird. It shouldn't be too much trouble for you, right?"

Nangong Qingtan smiled and spoke.

"I wonder what kind of spirit bird it is, and how badly it is injured? Although I have some medical skills, treating the white ape back then would consume a lot of true essence. I have only been in the early stage of Foundation Establishment for a short time, and if I overexert myself, it may damage my cultivation."

Lin Changsheng frowned, but instead of refusing outright, he asked first.

His wood-attribute magic contains a great deal of vitality, and Lin Changsheng doesn't want others to know too much unless necessary.

Nangong Qingtan probably guessed some things from when he saved that white ape back then.

"Back when Fellow Daoist Lin was in the Qi Condensation stage, he was able to maintain the life force within a second-tier white ape. This time, the one that needs saving is a mid-grade second-tier spirit bird. It shouldn't be too difficult, right? I won't let Fellow Daoist Lin help me for nothing."

Nangong Qingtan's pretty face showed a more serious expression.

"Alright, I, Lin, will accompany Fellow Daoist Nangong."

After a moment's thought, Lin Changsheng agreed.

He even suspected that Nangong Qingtan's visit was specifically to ask him to take action on this matter, and that the recruitment was just a casual remark.

If they can successfully recruit them, it will naturally be a good thing for the Nangong family.

If I refuse, she will then ask me to help her, which would be difficult to refuse again.

Next, the two discussed the specific details of the treatment and agreed to set off together three days later.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, your Crimson Centipede is quite well-raised. It has a strong earth element aura and seems to be a mutated species."

Before leaving, Nangong Qingtan glanced at the lazy Crimson Centipede not far away, and her beautiful eyes lit up as she praised it.

As a member of the Nangong family, Nangong Qingtan was very knowledgeable about various spirit insects and demonic beasts, and she could tell at a glance that the Crimson Centipede had a good foundation.

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, you flatter me. It was just a fluke."

Lin Changsheng smiled faintly, seemingly unwilling to discuss the matter further.

To be honest, he felt a little guilty, after all, the breakthrough pill for the Crimson Centipede to advance to the second rank did not come from an honorable source.

Lin Changsheng breathed a sigh of relief after seeing Nangong Qingtan off at Changchun Peak.

Fortunately, I brought the Snow Demon Wolf with me on this trip.

Otherwise, it would be really hard to explain if this woman saw it.

The reason why the three of us were surrounded by the Snow Demon Wolf back then was precisely because of this Snow Demon Wolf.

The appearance of this Snow Demon Wolf on Changchun Peak is somewhat suspicious.

……

Three days later, in the southwest of the Nangong family.

In a circular valley.

Two young figures, a boy and a girl, flew over.

The young man was dressed in a white shirt, clean and neat, with an otherworldly and serene air.

The young girl wore a long white feather dress, exuding a classic and elegant charm.

Amidst the mountains and rivers, the two, a handsome man and a beautiful woman, seemed like a perfect match, like a golden couple.

"How is it, Fellow Daoist Lin? This is the place where my Nangong family raises spirit cranes."

Nangong Qingtan pointed to a lake not far away, where many large cranes lived.

"Indeed, the mountains and rivers are beautiful and the spiritual energy is abundant. Such a treasure land is used to raise demon beasts. Your family is indeed very wealthy."

Lin Changsheng praised sincerely.

"Then, Fellow Daoist Lin, why don't you reconsider the matter of making and offering talismans?"

Nangong Qingtan teased.

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, you should act as soon as possible."

Lin Changsheng did not respond and directly changed the subject.

"Alright, I'll trouble you later, Fellow Daoist Lin."

Nangong Qingtan nodded and did not dwell on the matter of making talismans for worship.

Immediately, Nangong Qingtan took out a gleaming bronze 'Beast Taming Ring' from his storage bag and smashed it directly at a particularly tall spirit crane in the flock of spirit cranes.

Second-tier spirit crane.

Lin Changsheng squinted and stopped to observe.

This second-tier spirit crane is the very creature that Lin Changsheng is about to save.

It was also a second-tier flying spirit bird specially bred by the Nangong family for Nangong Qingtan.

They are just waiting for Nangong Qingtan to advance to the Foundation Establishment stage before they come to subdue him.

However, subduing this mid-stage second-tier spirit crane was not easy.

After a monster advances to the second tier, its intelligence increases, making it difficult for humans to subdue or enslave it, even if it has been raised from a young age and has developed some affection for it.

In response, the Nangong family devised a special method for taming this spirit bird.

First, they used forceful methods to severely injure the crane.

Then, using a special secret technique, they refined the severely injured crane day and night, keeping it awake and resting, thus weakening the bird's resistance.

Finally, on his deathbed, he completely tamed it.

This method is simple and crude, but it causes considerable damage to the crane itself.

It could even cause permanent damage, leading to a decline in the spirit crane's demonic power or even its death.

Therefore, Nangong Qingtan thought of Lin Changsheng's special treatment methods and invited him to help.

As for the reward, it is a complete second-grade mid-level spirit wood.

It is possible to produce about one or two hundred second-tier talismans.

Before long, Nangong Qingtan had already started to struggle with the mid-stage second-tier spirit crane.

Although the spirit crane is docile and not good at fighting, it is still a mid-stage second-tier demon beast, which is not something that ordinary early-stage Foundation Establishment cultivators can provoke.

A surge of powerful demonic energy erupted forth, its might astonishing.

However, the magical 'Beast Taming Ring' in Nangong Qingtan's hand seems to have been reforged, reaching the second tier in quality, making it very effective against demonic beasts.

At the same time, Nangong Qingtan seemed to be aware of Linghe's weakness and did not confront him head-on.

He simply used a mysterious movement technique, his figure as agile as a swimming fish, dodging the attacks of the spirit cranes.

At the same time, her jade hand gently manipulated the magic seal, urging the Beast Taming Ring to constantly harass and feign attacks, and suddenly she found an opportunity to put it around the neck of the spirit crane.

The Beast Taming Ring shrank rapidly, and the crane immediately let out a mournful cry. Startled, it tried to spread its wings and fly away.

Nangong Qingtan took the opportunity to fly out, patted his storage bag and released a dense net-like magical artifact with many sharp spikes on it, seemingly made specifically for demonic beasts.

The crane, caught in the net, was startled again, and its bird instincts caused it to flutter on the ground.

In an instant, sand and stones flew everywhere, and dust filled the air.

Although the spirit crane is not good at fighting, it is still a second-tier spirit bird.

Its feathers were as sharp as knives, and the net-like magical artifacts seemed unable to suppress it.

Nangong Qingtan, however, unhurriedly untied the spirit beast pouch.

A flash of silver light appeared, and a large, majestic silver-backed wolf leaped out from it, showing no fear of the crane's struggles, and pounced on it fiercely.

The silverback wolf's massive and agile body instantly overwhelmed the spirit crane.

The next step is much simpler.

Under the suppression of the Silverback Demon Wolf and the Beast Taming Ring, the Spirit Crane could hardly struggle and could only let Nangong Qingtan use his secret techniques to engage in a mental battle.

Every now and then, the mournful cry of a crane could be heard.

As time went by, Nangong Qingtan's aura grew stronger, while Linghe's demonic power diminished and its aura weakened.

"It's done!"

Finally, half a month later, a look of joy appeared on Nangong Qingtan's slightly tired face, but when she noticed Linghe's condition, she became anxious again.

"Fellow Daoist Lin, quickly save the spirit crane's life!"

Lin Changsheng nodded.

Knowing it was time for him to make his move, he had already prepared.

With a series of hand gestures, wisps of pale green magic power swirled around his fingertips, and a vibrant, ever-flowing aura of wood elemental energy spread out.

Magical power was slowly transferred into Chao Linghe's body to maintain his life.

During the time he had been observing from the sidelines, Lin Changsheng had already realized that although this secret technique could directly subdue demonic beasts without the need to raise them from a young age and build a bond with them, it was still effective in some ways.

However, the drawbacks are also quite obvious.

That would come at the cost of almost completely obliterating the spirit beast's consciousness, making it unable to advance in the future.

If Lin Changsheng doesn't intervene to save this spirit crane, its strength will soon drop to the early stage of the second tier, making it difficult to return to its peak.

No wonder Nangong Qingtan came to him.

Lin Changsheng finally understood.

His own cultivation technique is special, and his magical power can maintain the life force in the spirit crane's body, which is equivalent to indirectly helping Nangong Qingtan tame a spirit crane in the middle stage of the second tier.

Without his intervention, the only creature this woman could ultimately tame was a second-tier early-stage spirit crane.

Even though they differ by a small level, their value and function are completely different.

"Fellow Daoist Lin's medical skills are truly exceptional; I'm afraid there's not another like him in the entire Thousand Crane Immortal City. We owe a great debt to Fellow Daoist Lin this time."

Sensing that the life force within the spirit crane was gradually stabilizing, although its condition was extremely poor, fortunately its cultivation level had not dropped and it remained at the mid-stage of the second rank, Nangong Qingtan was overjoyed and sincerely thanked him.

"Fellow Daoist Nangong, you are too kind. No matter how exquisite your medical skills are, they are still just minor skills."

Lin Changsheng shook his head repeatedly and said modestly.

He knew that through the two separate treatments, the clever and quick-witted Nangong Qingtan might have guessed that he possessed special magical powers.

But he wasn't particularly worried.

Those in the cultivation world place more emphasis on and pursue methods such as attacking and fighting, or increasing their cultivation level.

Even if you know that a certain technique is good at nourishing qi and healing, you might sacrifice the techniques themselves and make it unsuitable for combat.

Most people probably wouldn't choose that voluntarily.

After Linghe's injuries had completely stabilized, Nangong Qingtan readily took out a second-tier spirit wood and handed it to Lin Changsheng.

The two then parted ways.

Lin Changsheng left the Nangong family and returned to Changchun Peak to continue his seclusion.

……

Two years later.

After a period of focused cultivation, Lin Changsheng's misty magical power increased slightly.

This is the first time his cultivation level has seen a slight increase since he entered the Foundation Establishment stage.

However, reaching the mid-stage of Foundation Establishment is still a long way off.

Suddenly, Lin Changsheng felt a warm and familiar feeling emanating from him.

With a swift movement, he left the cave and arrived at the lakeside.

The saplings nurtured by the seed of destiny also seemed to undergo some kind of change, absorbing the spiritual energy of heaven and earth within the Changchun Peak Dojo at an astonishing speed.

A rich sense of life bursts forth from the sapling.