Steady Mortal Path: Starting from Obtaining the Golden Core Inheritance

noon.

Lin Changsheng flew to the agreed location on a willow leaf shuttle, where Zhang Xiucai had been waiting for a long time.

Upon meeting, Lin Changsheng immediately sensed that Zhang Xiucai's aura had become more substantial, and his magical power was more refined than when they last met. Clearly, the tempering and baptism he had undergone in the forbidden area had made his future cultivation path smoother.

"It's been several months since we last met. Brother Shangwen, your aura is steady and your magic power is solid. You are not far from the ninth level of Qi Condensation. It seems that you have gained a lot from your trip to the 'Mirror Mist Forbidden Land'. I would like to offer my congratulations."

Lin Changsheng was slightly surprised, but offered his congratulations with a faint smile.

"Brother Lin is joking. This is all earned through bloody struggles. It can't compare to your years of quiet cultivation, which has a solid foundation and steady progress. I'm afraid you'll have advanced to the late stage of Qi Condensation by the next time we meet. Such cultivation would be considered above average even in the Qinglan Sect."

Recalling his previous trip to the forbidden area, Zhang Xiucai felt a lingering fear, but instead felt envious of Lin Changsheng's peaceful and comfortable life.

After exchanging pleasantries, the two got down to business.

"Brother Lin, Senior Sister Lin Xiurong is about to go into seclusion and is unable to come. She asked me to bring you the item I promised last time..."

Scholar Zhang carefully chose his words and recounted the story of Lin Xiurong in detail.

Lin Changsheng was quite surprised when he heard this.

It turns out that many treasures in the 'Mirror Mist Forbidden Land' are protected by strange and unusual restrictions.

The 'barrier-breaking talisman' that Lin Xiurong carried played a crucial role in her entry into the area.

In particular, the 'quasi-second-tier' barrier-breaking talisman saved Lin Xiurong a lot of trouble.

While the other disciples were still struggling to break the seal, Lin Xiurong had already searched for a large number of treasures all by herself.

Finally, the treasures were taken out and handed over to the sect elders for inventory. Lin Xiurong's personal gains were almost among the top ten of everyone.

This made the fake alchemist who led the team that day very proud.

I heard that during this sect disciple trial, the leaders of various forces, having nothing better to do, started betting on the disciples' gains from the training.

Lin Xiurong not only brought glory to the sect's fake Core Formation cultivator, but also won a considerable sum of money.

When the Core Formation Ancestor of the Qinglan Sect, 'True Man Qingyun,' learned of this, he immediately rewarded Lin Xiurong with three Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

This includes a 'Foundation Building Pill'.

"The next time we meet, Lin Xiurong will have truly become a Foundation Establishment cultivator..."

After a long period of surprise, Lin Changsheng sighed inwardly.

Possessing a mid-grade spiritual root, Lin Xiurong was the most talented among them back then. In addition, she received special training from the Qinglan Sect and now has three Foundation Establishment spiritual items.

Lin Xiurong's path to immortality is smooth, and her breakthrough to the Foundation Establishment realm is practically guaranteed.

Lin Changsheng even thought that, given Lin Xiurong's situation, she might have a surplus of the three Foundation Establishment spiritual items...

Lin Xiurong entrusted Zhang Xiucai to bring two items this time.

A miniature jade bottle with a 'sealing talisman' on it, and a jade-green demon core in a jade box.

Through the introduction, Lin Changsheng learned that this was a small portion of 'earth vein source energy' and a second-tier green-eyed golden toad demon core.

As Lin Xiurong intended, she had promised Lin Changsheng a Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

It should have been a Foundation Building Pill or the source of earth vein energy.

However, the Qinglan Sect manages its Foundation Establishment Pills very strictly, and the whereabouts of each pill must be strictly recorded to prevent the pills from leaking out.

All that was left to give Lin Changsheng was this small portion of the earth vein energy.

If a small amount of Earth Vein Source Qi is used to break through to Foundation Establishment, its efficacy is only one-third of the normal amount. Furthermore, due to conflicting effects, it cannot be taken together with Foundation Establishment Pills.

To compensate Lin Changsheng for his losses, Lin Xiurong included the demon core of the second-tier demon beast, the Jade-Eyed Golden Toad.

Under normal circumstances, a second-tier demon core can be used as the main ingredient for refining Foundation Establishment Pills.

However, this second-tier Azure-Eyed Golden Toad is poisonous, and its demon core contains a large amount of toxins, making it unsuitable for alchemy. It's somewhat of a waste, but perhaps it could be sold to cultivators who urgently need poisonous demon cores in exchange for other resources.

"It's alright. I'm already quite satisfied that I can exchange a few barrier-breaking talismans for these two items."

Although Lin Changsheng was somewhat disappointed, he did not show it.

Lin Changsheng was well aware of the preciousness of the Foundation Establishment Pill; the value of just three 'Restriction-Breaking Talismans' was far from enough.

Originally, his target price was for foundation-building spiritual items such as the Cleansing Pill, the Pulse Protection Pill, and the Heart Nourishing Pill.

Unexpectedly, Lin Xiurong delivered a small portion of earth vein energy and a poisonous demon core.

Earth vein energy and foundation-building pills have conflicting effects and cannot be used together.

Using only such a small amount of earth vein source energy to break through the foundation is too insignificant, far less effective than a complete set of earth vein source energy or a foundation-building pill.

From this perspective, these two items are not very helpful for future foundation building attempts.

After a moment's thought, Lin Changsheng figured out the purpose of these two items.

Refine the Netherworld Spirit Pearl that the 'Heavenly Poison Master' used in his early years!

Although it lacks the accompanying cultivation technique 'Netherworld Poison Scripture' and cannot unleash the full power of the Netherworld Pearl, it still far surpasses some common magical artifacts in the cultivation world.

If one can refine the Netherworld Spirit Pearl, it will be sufficient as a means of daily protection even after advancing to the Foundation Establishment stage.

Then, Zhang Xiucai took out a bulging little bag.

Inside were some spiritual herbs and medicines that Lin Changsheng had entrusted him to find in the forbidden area.

"Brother Lin's request has truly put me through a lot of trouble..."

Scholar Zhang recounted the events with a wry smile.

It turns out that many of these medicinal herbs contain toxins. Although Lin Changsheng had noted this on the list, Zhang Xiucai was an amateur and suffered a lot because of it.

"Thank you for your hard work, Brother Shangwen. I will purchase these medicinal herbs at market price."

Lin Changsheng was delighted upon seeing it and couldn't help but open the package to examine it.

Given his lineage as a physician, it is perfectly reasonable for him to collect some medicinal herbs.

However, the toxic drugs mixed in have little to do with the doctor.

Lin Changsheng planned to use the guise of a doctor to secretly concoct some of the poisons from the 'Netherworld Poison Codex'.

Perhaps it can be used to protect oneself.

"Forget it, we brothers are both men who do great things, how can we concern ourselves with such petty matters? Brother Lin, you should focus on mastering the art of talisman making as soon as possible, so that I can also benefit from it."

Scholar Zhang waved his hand and said readily.

Lin Changsheng did not insist on this, as the two had known each other for a long time and owing each other some favors would deepen their cooperation.

Scholar Zhang did not stay long this time, and took his leave under the pretext of going into seclusion.

The two encouraged each other and wished each other a long and prosperous path to immortality before parting ways.

……

On the way home, a pair of cold, sinister eyes stared at the distant sky like a venomous snake.

A beam of light descended, then faded, revealing a lovely young woman dressed in palace attire.

"Your sister is here. Have you found out everything?"

"Don't worry, sister. I've already confirmed with the clansmen on duty; that boy did indeed come out today..."

"Good! After all these years, this person has finally decided to come out!"

"Hmph, I used my looks to seduce him before, but he was completely unmoved. Once he falls into our hands, we'll definitely teach him a lesson!"

"That person disfigured and crippled me. After capturing him, I'll torture him thoroughly, then seal his cultivation and imprison him as a talisman-making slave..."

Not far from Xi Danhe's house, on a hilltop, stood an ugly, one-armed old woman with a sinister glint in her eyes.

Beside him was a lovely young girl dressed in a palace-style gauze dress, whose vicious expression made her originally pretty face look extremely out of place.

……

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