Afterward, to do the honors as host, Ink Master invited the three cultivators from the Xu Clan to a banquet at the shop.
The Spirit Wine and delicacies were specially delivered from the Spirit Wine Tower.
Besides Xu Fugui, the other two cultivators were an elder named Xu Qianhuan, at Late Stage Qi Cultivation, who possessed astonishing Spiritual Pressure and immense Magical Power; and Xu Xulian, in his forties and at Middle Stage Qi Cultivation, who gave off a steady and composed impression.
They were the backbone of the Xu Family.
Lin Changheng and Xu Qianyou kept them company.
The two were quite courteous to Lin Changheng. After all, every Pill Master was precious, and he had a chance to become an Honored Guest Elder in the future. The clan had strict orders to treat such individuals with courtesy, lest they become disheartened—especially since there were no bonds of blood or family to hold them.
They also mentioned that the situation outside was chaotic. Apparently, a few Loose Cultivators had been moonlighting as Tribulation Cultivators and planning to set up an ambush, but they had killed them.
They also explicitly stated that when the time came for a future evacuation, the clan would dispatch even greater forces to ensure nothing went wrong.
These words were undoubtedly a shot in the arm for the three from the Alchemy Shop.
...
That evening, Lin Changheng invited Xu Fugui to a private dinner.
The two of them took the opportunity to strengthen their bond.
During the meal, as wine cups were exchanged, they both drank until they were tipsy. Xu Fugui passed an exquisite box over to Lin Changheng; it was a gift to congratulate him on his promotion.
With hazy eyes, Xu Fugui also revealed a piece of news. He said that a Female Cultivator from the Xu Family named Tantai Feiyue, another one of their "Immortal Seedlings," had also made a breakthrough in the Hundred Arts, becoming an Entry Tier Talisman Master.
"Brother Lin, you and this woman are, as of now, the only two Immortal Seedlings to have reached Entry Tier in the Hundred Arts."
Lin Changheng was taken aback. He recalled Tantai Feiyue—she was a cool and noble-looking woman. He hadn't interacted with her much back then and only vaguely remembered that she was the legitimate daughter of an "iron-cap" prince from a mortal dynasty.
She had no intention of inheriting her family's legacy, choosing instead to willingly step onto the Immortal Dao.
"In about two months, she'll also undergo the clan's assessment. If she succeeds, she'll be promoted to a Named Honored Guest. Although the position comes with no real authority, the benefits are quite good."
"I know."
Lin Changheng nodded.
The path to promotion was much the same for him. After passing the assessment, he would also become a Named Honored Guest of the Xu Family. If he could then reach Middle Grade, he could become a formal Honored Guest Elder and be put in charge of a shop.
Becoming an Upper Grade Alchemist, however, was a different story entirely.
At that point, he would no longer be a vassal or subordinate of the Xu Family. He could meet them on equal footing, and their interactions would be based on mutual interest.
Because at that level, any Qi Cultivation Clan would respectfully ask him to join them and become a guest of honor, offering him a place to establish himself.
Foundation Establishment Clans would also actively extend an olive branch, making generous offers to invite him.
Even the great Noble Families would have to regard him with respect!
...
「The next day.」
Lin Changheng didn't see Xu Fugui again. Their final glass of wine the previous night had served as a farewell.
He didn't know when the three cultivators had departed. They had slipped away quietly, without leaving a single sound.
Lin Changheng also noticed that Shopkeeper Xu Qianyou was spending far less time managing the storeroom.
He usually spent more than half an hour busy in the storeroom, but now he would emerge in the time it took an incense stick to burn.
From this, he inferred that the storeroom was clearly much emptier.
Of course, this had no effect on him.
He continued his Alchemy as usual, stockpiling Masterpiece Red Flame Pills.
At the same time, Lin Changheng had been studying the Pill Formula for another Lower Grade pill he had acquired: the Wood Element Pill. He already had a good grasp of it and was just waiting for a chance to put it into practice.
The most crucial part was obtaining the Alchemy Materials. He couldn't bypass the Xu Family and thus had to rely on the shop.
Therefore, he estimated that he would have to wait about a month before he could truly begin refining it. The best opportunity would be after he returned to the Xu Family and obtained the status of a Named Honored Guest.
'The Immortal Dao is long; there's no need to rush.'
Lin Changheng reminded himself.
After all, he hadn't been an Entry Tier Alchemist for very long—only five months, all told.
...
"Dachang, I'm off."
With a call, Lin Changheng walked out of the Li Family Spirit and Flesh Shop, carrying five catties of freshly cut Mang Tuna Essence Meat.
"Come again, Brother Lin!"
Putting down his meat cleaver, Li Changchang hastily wiped the grease from his hands on his apron and rushed out to see him off.
"Alright, see you later!"
As Li Changchang watched him go, Lin Changheng gave a wave and left with a smile.
Now that Lin Changheng had a surplus of Spirit Stones, he could naturally afford to improve his quality of life a bit and didn't need to be intentionally frugal.
This Mang Tuna was a domesticated, Lower Grade Tamed Beast, but its meat was tender and fresh. It was delicious whether steamed or served with congee. Moreover, eating it could replenish one's Qi and Blood and restore Energy.
It struck a balance between flavor and function, making it a favorite among Cultivators!
Moreover, those five catties of Mang Tuna Essence Meat had cost him a whole Spirit Stone—and that was at a friendly discount. The price was by no means cheap.
It was worth mentioning that since Lin Changheng had come to buy meat several times, this, combined with his status as a Pill Master, had led to a good relationship with Li Changchang over time. Li Changchang now considered him a good friend.
After all, his status as a Pill Master was undeniable. For someone like him to deign to befriend him, Li Changchang was overwhelmed by the favor.
As for Lin Changheng, although Li Changchang was currently just a shop assistant who cut and sold meat, he had an older brother in the Li Family with good aptitude who had already reached the Sixth Layer of Qi Cultivation.
Having lost their parents at a young age, the two brothers relied on each other for survival.
Through their casual chats, Lin Changheng had already pieced together most of Li Changchang's situation.
When this topic came up, a genuine smile would spread across Li Changchang's face; clearly, he and his brother were extremely close.
'Once his brother breaks through to Late Stage Qi Cultivation, and considering his own diligence and decent speaking skills, it's not impossible for Li Changchang to use that momentum to become a shopkeeper himself. When that happens...'
'It's just a seed planted offhandedly. If it bears fruit, great. If not, it's no loss.'
He was very philosophical about it. By broadly forming good connections, perhaps he could catch that one-in-a-million opportunity.
...
「In the D Level Cave Mansion.」
Lin Changheng was cooking a catty of Mang Tuna congee. Its aroma was intoxicating. Thanks to his improved Fire Control, his cooking skills had also improved significantly.
KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!
Just as he was about to dig in, there was a knock on the door.
"Fairy Su, perfect timing."
Inviting his neighbor inside, Lin Changheng ladled her a bowl of the fragrant meat congee.
"I never expected that on top of your Alchemy, your culinary skills are so advanced, Brother Lin. This is absolutely delicious! The tuna is fragrant but not tough, and smooth without being greasy."
After her first taste, Su Shuangjiang's lovely eyes lit up. She then ate the entire bowl without pause, praising it endlessly.
Lin Changheng was pleased to see the female cultivator's reaction. More importantly, he was very comfortable with the implicit trust her actions conveyed.
The two proceeded with their transaction as usual.
Fifteen Genuine Pills, worth a total of twenty-four Spirit Stones.
As for the Masterpiece Pills, Lin Changheng still hadn't shown them to anyone.
The female cultivator, in turn, took out ten bottles of Essence Blood from mature Fire Crows, along with twenty-eight bottles of an unfamiliar Essence Blood that emanated a faint, earthy-yellow glow.
"What's this?"
Lin Changheng asked curiously, his eyes brightening as he stared at the new Essence Blood inside the Glazed Bottle.
"Recently, while I was out Demon Hunting, I discovered a small clan of Lower Grade Demon Beasts deep inside a cave—Pan Mountain Turtles. I wiped the whole group out and managed to get this much Essence Blood. I'm not sure if it's of any use to you, Brother Lin?"
"As for the Fire Crows, they're still difficult to catch, so this is all I managed to get."
Speaking of the Fire Crows, a helpless look appeared on Su Shuangjiang's pretty face. They had wings and flew quite fast. A Loose Cultivator chasing them wouldn't dare make a big commotion for fear of attracting the attention of a powerful Great Demon.