Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 284 - 182: Sacred Heart Spring Water

The enhancement of his Immortal Dao Spirit Root had, once again, slightly increased his cultivation speed.

Though the improvement was modest, it was still better than nothing.

Moreover, due to his exceptional talent in Alchemy Dao, the boost provided by the Immortal Dao Spirit Root was proportionally greater.

After becoming an Upper Grade B Alchemist, the resources that were previously stretched thin became abundant again; over the past two or three years, he’d visited Liuyun Immortal City twice to purchase Alchemy Dao Jade Scrolls.

Liuyun Immortal City was even more prosperous than Platinum Immortal City, and held far more Jade Scrolls of Alchemy Dao. Thus, he was never short of these scrolls.

However, just as other alchemists had said, to become a Tier Two Alchemist, one’s cultivation level was a critical requirement.

Otherwise, it was simply impossible to control the pill fire necessary for refining Tier Two pills. 𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

Lu Chang’sheng, through the connections he’d made over the last two years, tried once—yet the Foundation Establishment-level pill fire was monstrous, burning through all the magical power of his third level Qi Cultivation in less than half a minute.

Thus, whenever the Alchemist assessment involved an Upper Grade B potential rating, the examiners would always take the alchemist’s cultivation talent into account.

And even though he managed to become an Upper Grade B Alchemist in just a few short years, it still wasn’t enough to change other people’s final judgments of him.

Tier Two Alchemist—hard to achieve!

This was universally acknowledged, just like Foundation Establishment: a barrier trapping countless cultivators.

In addition to significant progress in Alchemy Dao, he’d also gained much in Puppetry Technique.

Not long ago, he’d just reached the entry level in Puppetry, and was already able to craft ordinary puppets. In terms of strength, they matched some True Qi Realm martial artists—useless for combat, but perfectly reliable for trivial tasks.

Just as Lu Chang’sheng was preparing to head to the storeroom for medicinal materials, he suddenly noticed his Sound Transmission Shell vibrating.

Several Sound Transmission Shells were stored among the immortal insects in the Treasure Vault; one of them was specifically from the Lin Family.

As he took out the shell and listened, his face changed ever so slightly.

Master Lin Yan had passed away.

Recalling the kindness Lin Yan had shown him, Lu Chang’sheng didn’t hesitate for an instant and hurried to the Lin Family.

When he arrived, Lin Yan’s breath had already faded; a crowd of kin bore anguished expressions, gathered around Lin Yan’s courtyard.

Seeing Lu Chang’sheng, many faces showed a complex mix of emotions.

Lin Yu, along with several relatives, knelt before Lin Yan’s corpse, grief etched deeply onto his features.

Lu Chang’sheng swept his gaze around, noticing Lin Ruo kneeling to one side, with several strangers standing quietly behind her.

He guessed they must be from the Ming Family—unease instantly dawning in his heart.

Still, he kept silent; Lin Yan hadn’t managed to resolve these matters while alive—what right did he, an outsider, have to interfere?

After burning a few sticks of incense and keeping vigil through the night for Lin Yan, Lu Chang’sheng returned to Yun’an Institute of the White Cloud Pharmacy.

He sought out Wei Zhen.

Wei Zhen hadn’t been on duty recently; upon hearing Lu Chang’sheng wanted to visit, he immediately emerged from seclusion to receive him.

After a round of mutual courtesies, Lu Chang’sheng got straight to the point.

"Items that enhance the Immortal Dao Spirit Root?"

Wei Zhen felt Lu Chang’sheng was asking the impossible, but times had changed—the man before him was no longer just a junior Upper Grade C Alchemist—so he responded seriously: "There are such things, but they’re far too precious. Whenever one appears, it sets off a commotion. How could it easily show up on the open market?"

"Let alone those that improve the Immortal Dao Spirit Root—even medicines to enhance Martial Arts Root Bone are exceptionally rare. It’s said that, long ago, such things were common in the Spirit Realm, but now, you’d only find them in the most remote corners."

He knew Lu Chang’sheng had poor Immortal Dao Root Bone; thus, he was seeking items to improve it. But in the vast Spirit Realm, who would admit they didn’t need these things?

Even Wei Zhen himself was no exception.

Thankfully, Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t placed much hope in finding anything—he just wanted to ask around; if he heard of something, it’d be a win, and if not, it was no loss.

"Is there a way for someone to break through the mid-stage Qi Cultivation barrier sooner?"

The Qi Cultivation Realm had small wall barriers.

From early to mid, and mid to late.

For those blessed with good spirit roots, these barriers might just be modest hurdles—put in a bit of effort, and you’d cross over.

But for cultivators with abysmal Immortal Dao Spirit Roots, breaking through might require a tremendous investment of energy and resources.

"That, at least, exists—and with your skills, Fellow Daoist Lu, you have a good chance at succeeding."

Wei Zhen chuckled.

With Lu Chang’sheng’s Immortal Dao Root Bone, if he didn’t get outside help, prying open this stage’s barrier would be no easy feat; for all he knew, it might not happen even after decades.

"No wonder you’re an alchemist."

Hearing Lu Chang’sheng ask, Wei Zhen thought that being an alchemist was truly a blessing—never hurting for cultivation resources.

Those without special skills, like himself, could only take on more tasks to make ends meet.

Otherwise, relying on just the yearly stipend of a few thousand low-grade spirit stones would never be enough.

The expenses in early and mid-stage Qi Cultivation were worlds apart—far greater in the latter.

If only he was suited for alchemy, he’d have switched paths long ago.

"In Alchemy Dao, there are Barrier-Breaking Pills—capable of shattering the Qi Cultivation barrier. Only thing is, the ingredients for these pills are hard to come by."

Lu Chang’sheng made a quick mental note. He’d planned to ask the major families to help look for leads on Barrier-Breaking Pills, but Wei Zhen suddenly spoke up: "Fellow Daoist Lu, you’re hoping to use a Barrier-Breaking Pill to get past the mid-stage Qi Cultivation barrier, right? If you’d asked me two days ago, I’d have been powerless to help. But now, there’s some news."

"What news?"

"Liuyun Immortal City will soon be holding an auction. Supposedly, it’ll be much larger than any in recent years."