"Ahem, of course not. I was just lost in thought, mulling over your words, Fairy. Please, come in."
Lin Changheng immediately led the Female Cultivator inside and served her some Fragrant Tea.
Tantai Feiyue picked up the cup and began sipping the tea without ceremony. Every movement overflowed with a noble air. As expected of a Commandery Princess from a mortal dynasty, her posture was both elegant and dignified.
Lin Changheng waited at her side for her to speak, wanting to understand the situation and feeling a little impatient.
He had previously asked this Commandery Princess to find a channel for Demon Beast Essence Blood related to Talisman Making. Of course, he had disguised his true purpose by claiming it was for researching a Pill Formula, ensuring he wouldn't reveal his secrets.
But the more anxious he seemed, the slower Tantai Feiyue became. She acted as if she had come only to savor the tea, unhurried and methodical.
She had no intention of speaking.
Lin Changheng was starting to get annoyed, but there was nothing he could do about her. As his gaze shifted, he noticed that her posture revealed a section of her fair, slender leg. An idea struck him, and he began to admire it openly, without any attempt to hide his gaze.
Tantai Feiyue appeared focused on her tea, but in reality, she was observing Lin Changheng's reactions. Seeing that she had the Male Cultivator right where she wanted him, she felt a sense of delight.
But then she noticed his gaze, as serious and appreciative as her own tea tasting, fall upon her leg. He was appraising it with the same careful consideration...
Her leg.
Instantly, she felt as if ants were crawling up her calf...
"Shameless..."
Muttering under her breath, Tantai Feiyue's heart began to race. A faint blush, like the rosy glow of dawn, spread across her fair, lovely face and down her delicate neck.
She quickly put down her teacup, pulled down the hem of her skirt to cover her exposed leg, and glared at Lin Changheng with a look of indignant embarrassment.
"Heh, done with your tea, Fairy? It's pretty good, isn't it?"
Lin Changheng nonchalantly averted his gaze, his expression unchanging, as if nothing had happened. He asked with a faint smile, like an innocent bystander.
"You!"
Seeing how thick-skinned Lin Changheng was, Tantai Feiyue felt helpless. 'What a lecher,' she cursed inwardly.
She then forced herself to calm down and spoke seriously about the Essence Blood matter.
She was originally a Commandery Princess of a mortal dynasty. Among those who sought Cultivation with her was the grandson of the Right Minister, a man named Jin Liyue.
The two were of similar age. Though they would have been complete strangers otherwise and rarely interacted, they became acquainted after being chosen as cultivation prospects. Since they were both from the Capital City, they became friends and still kept in touch.
Tantai Feiyue had a relatively poor Lower Grade Spirit Root, while Jin Liyue had a Mixed Spirit Root. One of them joined a Cultivation Clan, while the other was unwilling to marry into a clan and became a Loose Cultivator, who was said to be doing quite well.
So when Tantai Feiyue heard that Lin Changheng needed Demon Beast Essence Blood, she naturally thought of Jin Liyue and sent him a letter to inquire.
She received a reply very quickly.
"Fairy, are you saying your friend, Jin, has a stash of Demon Beast Essence Blood on hand?"
Lin Changheng felt a stir of excitement, but he kept his expression neutral as he asked.
"That's right, and he has a wide variety. For example, he has the Pan Mountain Turtle and Cyan Wood Snake Essence Blood that you mentioned before, Brother Lin. He has everything you could want," Tantai Feiyue relayed from the letter.
"That's excellent!"
Lin Changheng could no longer contain his delight, and it showed on his face. "What's the price? And can he deliver it to the Xu Family's residence?"
Tantai Feiyue's expression shifted slightly. "The price is the standard market rate, but Mr. Jin said that the Outer World is chaotic and the roads are dangerous. He hopes that you, Brother Lin, can make the trip in person..."
Upon hearing this, Lin Changheng instantly grew wary and fell silent.
After a long moment, he said with a wry smile, "I'm just a Pill Master, not skilled in Magical Combat. It's difficult for me to even move around outside; the chances of me running into danger are much higher."
"How about this, Fairy? Could you speak with Mr. Jin and ask him to make the trip for me? I can pay for the transport costs as well. I definitely won't let him take a loss."
Tantai Feiyue shook her head. "You mentioned this before, Brother Lin, and I made sure to relay it. But Mr. Jin was quite insistent. He will only agree if you go yourself."
'He won't agree even to that? He insists I go out there?'
Lin Changheng's burning excitement instantly cooled, and a thought leaped into his mind.
'Could it be that Mr. Jin is using the Essence Blood as bait?'
Since coming to the Cultivation Realm, he had heard too many rumors and stories about Loose Cultivators moonlighting as Tribulation Cultivators. He didn't hesitate to assume the worst of others.
He then stopped agonizing over it. There was no way he was stepping foot outside the Xu Family residence right now.
He immediately smiled faintly, cupped his hands toward Tantai Feiyue, and said, "Then I'll have to trouble you, Fairy, to inform Mr. Jin that I'll have to postpone my purchase of Demon Beast Essence Blood."
Tantai Feiyue blinked her bright eyes and nodded in deep agreement. "No problem. That would be my suggestion as well. Our Cultivation is only at the Early Stage Qi Cultivation; it's difficult to protect ourselves out there. We should at least wait until the Middle Stage Qi Cultivation before considering it."
"I'll write a letter to politely decline right away."
Evidently, with his Qi Concealing Skill, the Female Cultivator couldn't perceive that Lin Changheng had already broken through to the Middle Stage Qi Cultivation.
"Thank you for your trouble."
Lin Changheng thanked her, but thought to himself, 'Middle Stage Qi Cultivation? Without a master accompanying me, or some powerful life-saving measures, I'm not leaving until I've reached the Late Stage Qi Cultivation.'
Then, the Female Cultivator looked at Lin Changheng's somewhat disappointed expression and suddenly gave a mysterious smile.
"But there's no need for you to be disappointed, Brother Lin. I obtained something from the Hundred Treasures Tower. Take a look."
As she spoke, she waved her hand over the stone table, and four bottles of Talismanic Ink appeared.
Lin Changheng immediately picked one up, uncapped it, and sniffed. "Talismanic Ink made from Pan Mountain Turtle Essence Blood?" he asked in surprise.
"Precisely."
Tantai Feiyue then took out a page of notes and handed it to Lin Changheng. Written on it was a "Method for Reverse-Extracting Essence Blood from Talismanic Ink."
"If you need Essence Blood, Brother Lin, you can extract it from this. It's an application from the Talisman Dao inheritance I received. I've already tried it, and it really works."
'Tantai Feiyue is so thoughtful!'
Lin Changheng looked at her smiling face, and his opinion of her rose once again.
Although this method was useless to him, it provided excellent cover. "Thank you."
"I wonder, could I go and purchase some more?"
Tantai Feiyue shook her head. "The clan's inventory is limited. It's reserved for Talisman Masters and has a monthly quota. However, I can purchase it on your behalf."
"Then I'll have to trouble you. How many Spirit Stones will it cost?"
"There's no need for that..." Tantai Feiyue said, changing the subject. "I was wondering, Brother Lin, do you have any Masterpiece Wood Element Pills left? To be honest, I'm about to attempt Breaking the Realm to enter the Middle Stage, and I need a Masterpiece Pill to help."
"Of course."
Lin Changheng took out two pills and pushed them toward her with a slight, unreadable smile. "As it happens, I was taking care of some business outside and chanced upon a few. I still have some in stock."
Hearing the somewhat familiar words, Tantai Feiyue subconsciously tucked a lock of her hair back, revealing a jade-like earlobe that had turned pink. She pretended to examine the Elixirs to hide her reaction.
"This is too much..."
She saw that they were two Masterpiece Pills, worth at least six Spirit Stones. With the current pioneering efforts in full swing, people would gladly pay even eight for them. Her four bottles of Talismanic Ink, on the other hand, were only worth four Spirit Stones.
Tantai Feiyue was about to take out Spirit Stones to make up the difference, but Lin Changheng stopped her. "Consider it a deposit. I'll be relying on you to help me with my affairs in the future, Fairy."
"Very well."
After sending off the Female Cultivator, whose delight was now plain to see, Lin Changheng immediately dipped his hand into each of the Talismanic Ink bottles, one by one.
'Spirit Steal.'
WHOOSH!
The earthy-yellow Treasure Seed representing the Pan Mountain Turtle Treasure Species instantly became a bit more solid.
[Pan Mountain Turtle Treasure Species - Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]
[Spirit Stealing: 13/100]