Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 258 - 170: Direct Lineage!

He immediately spoke of the trick he was about to use.

This technique wasn’t anything particularly special—easy to understand but unique in its application.

Of course, the uniqueness required stability; the idea was unusual, but to realize it, every step had to be carried out to perfection.

Even for Lin Yan himself, successfully pulling off this trick was exceptionally difficult.

Moreover, this method was not his own creation—many Alchemists knew of it, yet due to its difficulty, few ever applied it to alchemy.

"Tsk tsk, you’re even using the Elixir Ascension Technique!"

This method was called the Elixir Ascension Technique—as its name suggested, it could raise the quality of a pill. Of course, the enhancement was slight: it could boost it a minor grade, never to a higher class entirely.

This was the real reason many Alchemists kept it on the shelf, unused.

"So that’s how it is. Still, your mastery of the Ascension Technique shows your talent in some areas is truly first-rate."

Lin Yan suddenly put down the pills in his hand, looking at Lu Chang’sheng solemnly.

"Your progress surprises me greatly. Though alchemy isn’t the same as the path of cultivation, it is a cornerstone that supports it—profound and vast. My own cultivation talent is lacking, but if I build my foundation on the Alchemy Dao, there’s no reason I can’t reach the late Qi Cultivation stage. By then, with your cultivation in alchemy, you should be the peer of any Foundation Establishment cultivator."

"Master flatters me!"

Lu Chang’sheng answered modestly.

Lin Yan waved his hand, saying, "No need to be too humble. Since I’ve spoken these words, it means I have judged carefully. You need only know the weight of my evaluation."

"Finally, let me ask you one more question—" Lin Yan chose his words carefully. "Will you take me as your master?"

Lu Chang’sheng’s heart tightened instantly.

These words had a meaning wholly unlike before.

Prior to any real test, although he’d called the other "teacher," in truth it was like being an Outer Sect disciple in the Immortal Sect—not a true disciple at all.

Now things were different.

This was true discipleship.

Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t expected Lin Yan to do this.

After all, if someone else discovered he had such talent, they might seek out a more famous master.

Yet Lin Yan had come out with it directly.

"I don’t want you to discover this in the future and then bear a grudge against me. If that’s how it will be, then I’d rather not accept you at all."

Lu Chang’sheng immediately bowed deeply and said, "Greetings, Master."

"Good! Good! Good!" Lin Yan’s three goods made the Alchemy Room tremble with their force.

It showed just how happy he was inside.

"Here, there’s no need for all the useless formalities. You don’t need to do anything for me—so long as you accept me as your master in your heart, that’s enough."

Lin Yan smiled and handed the pills back to Lu Chang’sheng.

Though the pill ingredients came from his own quota, the pills had been refined by Lu Chang’sheng.

As a tier-B Alchemist, Lin Yan’s yearly Spirit Stone allowance was hundreds of thousands—such a small sum wasn’t worth minding.

Some Alchemists accepted disciples in name only to make them work for them, but that was never Lin Yan’s rule.

Treat others kindly, and kindness will come back to you.

Seeing this, Lu Chang’sheng’s heart warmed. He fully accepted Lin Yan as his master.

That night, Lu Chang’sheng conducted a simple apprenticeship ceremony at Lin Yan’s residence in the Guilan Institute.

A single offering table, above it a portrait—an old Taoist with a white beard, clutching a duster, sitting atop a purple Pill Furnace, seemingly lost in cultivation.

"All of my accomplishments in the Alchemy Dao come from White Cloud Cave Mansion, and my own master learned from Heaven-Burning Valley. So together we shall offer sacrifice to the ancestor of Heaven-Burning Valley—Heaven-Burning Immortal."

Lu Chang’sheng immediately grew solemn.

This kind of Dao lineage inheritance once swept through the Spirit Realm.

For a very long age, all struggles within the Spirit Realm were between Dao lineages. As time wore on, Dao lineages faded, sects flourished, and things became as they are now.

"So it seems Master Baiyun is a man who remembers his debts."

If it had been anyone else, leaving Heaven-Burning Valley without harboring resentment would be rare enough—who would further spread its Dao lineage?

Lu Chang’sheng bowed low, then, as Lin Yan instructed, offered three sticks of incense.

"The times are different now, so the ceremony can be simplified as much as possible. But in a moment I’ll send word to all parts of the sect, confirming I’ve accepted a disciple," Lin Yan said.

"Thank you for your trouble, Master."

Lu Chang’sheng said this with heartfelt sincerity.

"One more thing: tomorrow, come with me to the Elegant Bamboo Garden."

Lin Yan smiled.

Lu Chang’sheng felt a warmth in his heart, though he did not agree immediately. "Master Lu isn’t back yet. Is there any point in going now?"

"Master Lu has some ties to White Cloud Cave Mansion. If I go in person, he will give me face."

Lu Chang’sheng took a deep breath and said, "Thank you, Master."

"If you want to thank me, then work hard. Taking you as my disciple, that pack of fools with the surname Lei won’t let me live it down."

Lin Yan blew out a breath and glared exaggeratedly.

Lu Chang’sheng nearly laughed in his heart. He hadn’t expected his master to be so competitive by nature.

"I will, Master."

······

By nightfall, a sealed letter was sent from the Guilan Institute and delivered to the steward of the grade-B courtyard.

When he saw the ’copy’ mark on the envelope, the steward knew right away this was a letter open for review, so he opened it and read—

"Alchemist Lin has taken a new disciple?"

His heart gave a jolt. Then, reading how the letter was copied to other senior Alchemists of the grade-B courtyard, he understood—it was about the acceptance of a direct lineage disciple, not some ordinary apprentice.

Being a Direct Lineage disciple, at times, could entirely represent the Alchemist’s own stance—the importance was on a whole other level.

"Which of Alchemist Lin’s disciples stood out and caught his Dharma Eye?" the steward wondered as he read.

As the grade-B steward, he clearly knew every Alchemist under his watch.

He knew Lin had four regular disciples. In principle, these should serve as candidates for direct lineage—any pick should be among them.

But when he saw the name on the letter, his face turned to one of shock.

"How could it be him!"

······

The copied letter soon spread to a dozen grand courtyards of the grade-B circle.

The residents were all senior Alchemists of White Cloud Pharmacy, assigned to keep order here.

Some only dropped by from the main sect occasionally, so only four or five manned the place most of the time.

At this moment, the four or five senior Alchemists who received the letter all showed signs of surprise on their faces.

Two in particular even sneered coldly.

"Lin Yan’s grown truly senile—he’s openly defying us, isn’t he?"

"Who’s to say? Lin Yan can be stingy at times, but it’s not like him to pick a fight with us over a petty matter like this," the other Alchemist said, after some hesitation, her cold smile fading.

"If you don’t trust our judgement, surely you believe in Master Liu’s?"

"That’s true."

With that, she gave it no more thought, only feeling regret for Lin Yan.

The ’Master Liu’ mentioned was Liu Jiu, a late-stage Qi Cultivation cultivator at White Cloud Cave Mansion, also a highly regarded grade-B Alchemist—one of the most senior among first-class Alchemists.

In all of White Cloud Cave Mansion, only Master Baiyun was more skilled in Alchemy Dao.

Moreover, Liu Jiu had always been fond of Zhou Lin, who’d only recently joined White Cloud Cave Mansion.

Originally, Liu intended to have Zhou Lin bide his time before accepting him, but when squabbles erupted between Lin Yan and Alchemist Lei, some grumbling arose within the sect about Zhou Lin. Though mild, it caught Liu’s eye, so to clear any doubts, he formally made Zhou Lin his disciple then and there.

To many, this meant—given a choice between Lu Chang’sheng and Zhou Lin—the latter had been chosen.

"Let it go. Just leave him be."

"Another hundred years, no one will even remember this."

The first Alchemist to speak shook his head, flicked the letter into the air, then a spark of flame burnt it swiftly to ash.

"Lin Yan, so narrow-minded! If only you stood with us for Zhou Lin—that would be the Righteous Path!"

······

"That Lin Yan. Still, that Lu Chang’sheng has decent talent—as much as his Spirit Root Talent holds him back, he’s still better than most. What a pity."