Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

After seeing He Wanying off, Lin Changsheng took out the 'green plum' and examined it.

After confirming that there were no problems, I gently tapped the ground with my foot.

Before long, a crimson figure darted out.

A three-foot-long, crimson centipede affectionately circled around its owner's feet.

Upon noticing the 'green plum' in Lin Changsheng's hand, the Crimson Centipede became excited and restless, even somewhat eager to try, almost unable to suppress its instinct to snatch it.

"These green plums are indeed extremely tempting to spirit beasts and insects."

"I hope you won't waste these resources and will grow to the middle grade of the first rank as soon as possible."

Looking at the restless Crimson Centipede at his feet, Lin Changsheng felt a sense of anticipation.

This kind of ferocious insect will only begin to show its power when it grows to at least the middle grade of the first rank.

At that time, we should also try to use some means to completely subdue and control this insect.

……

On this day, Lin Changsheng, who was in seclusion, was invited to Xu Qinghuan's courtyard.

Having given birth to two qualified children for the He family in one go, Xu Qinghuan has already moved to a larger villa.

Not long ago, he even found a new job in the He family's business in Huanglingfang.

At the door, Xu Qinghuan, along with his wife, children, and servants, were waiting outside.

"We're all brothers, why be so formal..."

Lin Changsheng smiled helplessly and said to Xu Qinghuan, who was a bit overweight in middle age.

"Of course. If it weren't for Brother Lin's persuasion and encouragement back then, I would have given up on myself long ago, and I wouldn't be where I am today. Brother Lin is our family's benefactor."

Holding her one-year-old children, Xu Qinghuan spoke solemnly.

Beside him stood a child of about six or seven years old, Xu Qinghuan's eldest mortal son.

She looked three or four parts like Xu Qinghuan, and gazed with envy at her younger brother and sister in her father's arms.

With his father's slightly displeased prompting, the child cautiously called out "Uncle Lin" to Lin Changsheng.

Xu Qinghuan then handed her two children to the madam and led Lin Changsheng to the reception room.

A table laden with delicious delicacies, rare fruits, and fine wine.

Lin Changsheng estimated that the meal was worth more than ten spirit stones.

He glanced at Xu Qinghuan, whose face was full of enthusiasm, without showing any emotion, and seemed to have a guess in his mind.

The two old friends toasted each other and chatted happily.

He expressed his feelings about their friendship of more than ten years.

Perhaps because she rarely gets to drink such fine wine, Xu Qinghuan drank a little too much.

His face flushed red, his speech slurred, and he kept shouting that he wanted to take a concubine.

Madam He Shuang was twenty-seven or twenty-eight years old and had given birth to three more children. Without the nourishment of magic, she gradually aged and lost her beauty, and her figure became out of shape.

He wanted to take another concubine, perhaps so that the He family could have more offspring.

In fact, quite a few of the independent cultivators who came from Huanglingfang Market back then shared this idea.

The He family also supports this.

The two talked from noon until evening.

Lin Changsheng reeked of alcohol and felt dizzy.

Xu Qinghuan was in even worse shape; she was completely out of her mind and her speech was slurred.

"Brother Lin, we brothers... hiccup... how many years have we known each other since we were ordinary mortals?"

"It's been more than ten years."

"It's been over ten years... Back then, I thought Brother Lin had potential... so I asked him to help me find... that stingy old man, Master Wu, and I never expected that... in the end, Brother Lin actually mastered it..."

Upon hearing this, Lin Changsheng waited quietly for what would happen next.

Sure enough, Xu Qinghuan lay drunk on the ground, muttering to himself, "Brother Lin... I haven't asked you for anything in the past ten years. Now that your nephew and niece both have the aptitude for cultivation, I want them to follow you in the future... as talisman-making apprentices."

Lin Changsheng remained calm and unsurprised upon hearing Xu Qinghuan's request.

This is probably the purpose of my former friend's invitation.

If it weren't for Xu Qinghuan back then, he wouldn't have been able to get close to Master Wu and find a cover for his talisman-making skills.

Every cause has its effect; even if one is devoted to spiritual cultivation, it is impossible to completely isolate oneself from the world.

Whether it's resources or spiritual veins, we need to work hard and compete for them.

"The He family's talisman-making tradition cannot be leaked, but as long as my nephew and niece have the aptitude for talisman-making, I will teach them a simple method."

Lin Changsheng made a calm promise.

……

On the way back, Lin Changsheng was deeply moved.

The once spirited Xu Qinghuan is now starting to put thought into paving the way for his descendants.

At the same time, Lin Changsheng suddenly felt a surge of powerful demonic energy erupting not far to the southwest.

This feeling came and went quickly, seemingly lacking follow-up and gradually fading away.

"Such powerful demonic energy indicates that it is at least a high-grade first-tier demon."

"It seems to be injured. When did such a monster appear in the He family's territory?"

Lin Changsheng was puzzled and couldn't help but look in the direction where the demonic energy had erupted earlier.

In the distance, Lin Changsheng spotted a gray bull, about two zhang long, outside a forest!

This giant bull-like beast was enormous, resembling a small hill, giving it a visually striking appearance.

However, this giant bull-like beast exuded an aura of weakness and old age.

Its massive body lay weakly on the ground, its hard leather armor covered with wounds of all sizes.

The newest wounds on the bull demon's neck and back are particularly fatal. A wisp of black energy emanates from the wounds, and only upon close inspection can one discover that the bull demon's entire internal organs have been corroded by the black energy.

"It seems the commotion earlier startled Master Lin..."

At the same time, a young man at the sixth level of Qi Condensation walked out from beside the giant bull demon beast, with a slightly apologetic look on his face.

Unexpectedly, this young man turned out to be He Liangcai, a rogue cultivator who had joined the He family with him back then.

After many years apart, He Liangcai now maintains close ties with the upper echelons of the He family and enjoys their deep trust.

They were almost indistinguishable from the direct descendants of the He family.

"So it's Brother Liangcai." Upon seeing the newcomer, Lin Changsheng greeted him, then his gaze fell upon the bull demon, and he asked with a puzzled look, "This bull demon is quite powerful, but unfortunately he's severely injured and seems to be nearing the end..."

As they were speaking, He Liangcai took out a light green magic talisman, activated it, and stuck it next to the bull demon's wound.

Lin Changsheng recognized at a glance that this talisman was the 'Rejuvenation Talisman' he himself had created.

A faint green aura emanated from it, swirling around the bull demon's wound.

The soft green light somewhat neutralized the black aura within the bull demon's body, and the bull demon seemed quite comfortable, its breathing gradually becoming steady from rapid to calm.

Before the time it takes to drink a cup of tea is up, the Rejuvenation Talisman's energy is exhausted, and the bull demon's aura becomes chaotic again.

Lin Changsheng finally understood that He Liangcai was willing to expend a 'Rejuvenation Talisman' just to keep this bull demon alive.

"I'm sorry to have troubled you, Master Lin. This armored bull was a spirit beast that the He family's ancestor tamed many years ago. The two have been companions for many years. Now that the spirit beast is seriously injured and unable to fight, it has been left to roam freely in the clan's territory."

After He Liangcai's explanation, Lin Changsheng finally understood.

The former was tasked with taking care of the bull demon for half a year.

And this bull demon was actually the spirit beast of the Foundation Establishment Ancestor of the He family.

Many years ago, when he was chasing after a clansman who had betrayed the He family and fallen into the demonic path, he was severely injured by a demonic cultivator. Now, his injuries are so severe that he cannot recover and can only fend for himself.

"So it was the spirit beast of the He family patriarch. No wonder it unleashed such power earlier."

After a moment's thought, Lin Changsheng took out a 'Rejuvenation Talisman', activated it, and gently placed it on the bull demon's wound.

A gentle green hue wafted out once more, allowing the bull demon's tense body to relax.

The bull demon has a spirit.

It swayed its massive head and let out a soft cry towards Lin Changsheng, as if in gratitude.