Longevity: My Talents Are a Bit Abundant-Chapter 378: Fetching Chestnuts from the Fire

Chapter 378: Chapter 378: Fetching Chestnuts from the Fire

Shen Xuan’s face darkened.

"Let’s talk inside."

Wan Meng stuck out her pink tongue and followed Shen Xuan into the inn room.

Shen Xuan personally brewed a cup of Spirit Tea for Wan Meng.

"Saintess, tell me, what do you want this time?"

"Hehe, Shen Xuan, why did you come here?"

Wan Meng revealed Shen Xuan’s identity.

"The Blood Spirit Sect issued a bounty, ten thousand Demon Stones."

"Fellow Daoist Shen’s price is higher than a Golden Core Inheritor!"

Shen Xuan smiled and said, "The bounty was released by the Yuwen Family, right? Does the Saintess care about a mere ten thousand Demon Stones?"

"I care!"

"But Wan Meng knows that Fellow Daoist Shen is skilled, having killed the Blood Spirit Sect’s Saint Child, not someone to be trifled with."

Wan Meng took a sip of Spirit Tea and spat it out with a "Pah" sound.

"This Spirit Tea is of such poor quality! Fellow Daoist Shen, how could you serve such stuff to an old friend!"

"The Spirit Tea is provided by the inn. Saintess, please make do."

"Forget it! Fellow Daoist Shen, Wan Meng asks you, are you really a Tier Two Upper Grade Pill Master?"

Shen Xuan raised an eyebrow, countering, "Is there a problem?"

"Wan Meng remembers you as a Talisman Master, quite a formidable one. How did you become a Pill Master?"

"First, tell me how you uncovered my true identity."

Wan Meng smiled charmingly, extremely pleased with herself.

"It’s a secret. I can’t tell you."

Shen Xuan pondered.

"It must be your Hehuan Sect’s undercover plant in Cyan Cloud Sect who found out, right?"

"Ah, how did you know?"

Shen Xuan shook his head.

He knew that there was a True Master-level influential figure in Cyan Cloud Sect who had been persuaded by the Demon Sect.

Previously, when killing the White Bone Sect’s Saint Child, he similarly revealed his true identity.

Shen Xuan arrived at Weihai Immortal City, with even his two masters unaware.

Two years ago, he had deliberately returned to Cyan Cloud Sect once.

He hired True Master Jade Sun from the Artifact Refining Hall to refine the Ten Thousand Dragons Profound Water Furnace.

This matter couldn’t be hidden from the Cyan Cloud Sect’s senior figures.

The intelligence network of Celestial Fragrance Pavilion is spread across various sects in Song Country.

The sudden rise of Water Technique Alchemist Shen Changsheng.

Adding to that, the Giant Furnace Refining, Nether cultivator Li Ruyi, and other traces.

Celestial Fragrance Pavilion only needed to put in a little effort to track it back to the missing Shen Xuan.

"Saintess, speak directly."

Shen Xuan said coldly.

Hehuan Sect is ranked as the top of the six major Demon Sects in Liang Country.

Always neutral, never participating in the conflicts between the Dao and the Demon.

Shen Xuan, however, didn’t think well of Hehuan Sect.

The so-called neutrality is just for better profits.

Celestial Fragrance Pavilion is the largest peripheral industry of Hehuan Sect.

They engage in Yang Gathering and Yin Supplement, profit from Spirit Stones, buy cultivators, sell intelligence; the profits are immense.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you have no idea how hot your intelligence is!"

"The intelligence of Pill Master Shen, two thousand Spirit Stones per piece, sold a total of thirteen pieces!"

"And that’s without updates. Once updated, the price will be at least three thousand Spirit Stones!"

Shen Xuan silently took out two thousand Spirit Stones.

"Give me a piece."

"Alright!"

Wan Meng took out an Intelligence Jade Scroll.

Shen Xuan scanned it with his Divine Sense, shaking his head.

"Shen Changsheng, suspected to be a Direct Disciple of some major sect’s True Master, signed a ten-year Pill Master tributary contract with the Wei Family of White Crane Island, with an annual salary of one hundred thousand Spirit Stones. Realm cultivation estimated to be Middle Stage of Foundation Establishment, Tier Two Upper Grade Water Technique Alchemist, skilled in refining Spirit Gathering Pill, True Essence Pill, Essence Stabilizing Pill..."

Soon, Shen Xuan finished reading.

Only a mere seven or eight hundred words.

The intelligence from Celestial Fragrance Pavilion about Shen Changsheng is extremely simple.

Unknown cultivation technique, suspected identity, estimated realm, no preferences, assessed as an ascetic.

The social relationship section listed only Wei Yating as an unregistered disciple.

Such an ambiguously worded personal intelligence, priced at two thousand Spirit Stones by Celestial Fragrance Pavilion.

One has to admit, there’s skill in making money.

Shen Xuan couldn’t help but remark, "Unbelievable!"

"What’s unbelievable!"

Wan Meng defended persistently.

"Only our Celestial Fragrance Pavilion could gather such complete intelligence. Other forces can’t even determine Shen Changsheng’s realm or level in Alchemy Dao."

"Moreover, we’ve now confirmed Shen Changsheng’s true identity!"

"Three thousand Spirit Stones per piece, not selling even a cent less!"

Shen Xuan asked expressionlessly, "Saintess, is there room for negotiation in this matter?"

Actually, Celestial Fragrance Pavilion only uncovered Shen Changsheng’s true identity.

He also has another persona as a Thunder Technique cultivator.

Also, even if his identity is exposed, it doesn’t mean much to him.

He started with ulterior motives.

But they were limited to opportunistic actions.

Now, he is in a fair trade with the patriarch of the Wei Family.

Concealing his identity is just to avoid unnecessary trouble.

Wan Meng giggled.

"Since Fellow Daoist Shen has spoken, naturally there’s room for negotiation."

She is the Saintess of Hehuan Sect.

As long as nothing excessive is done.

Disciples of Daoist Sect in Song Country are unlikely to act against her.

Moreover, she has her own tactics.

Even against Foundation Establishment cultivators, or Sect Core Formation Seeds, she is confident she can maneuver.

Only, for some reason, facing Shen Xuan, Wan Meng felt an inexplicable fear.

Perhaps having witnessed Shen Xuan’s methods, leaving a shadow in her heart?

"Fellow Daoist Shen, this time, Wan Meng can give you a favor. No updates to Shen Changsheng’s intelligence content!"

"Furthermore, Wan Meng can also give you a piece of important intelligence for free."

Shen Xuan looked at Wan Meng with suspicion.

He didn’t believe that the Saintess of Hehuan Sect would have such goodwill.

"What’s the cost?"

Wan Meng hesitated for a moment.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, rest assured, it doesn’t involve respective sects."

"Wan Meng has only one request. If one day Wan Meng needs it, Fellow Daoist Shen, could you repay the favor?"

Shen Xuan asked, "What’s the repayment method?"

"Wan Meng hasn’t thought it through yet. In any case, it won’t be difficult for Fellow Daoist Shen."

Shen Xuan pondered for a moment.

"As long as it doesn’t violate Cyan Cloud Sect’s regulations, if Shen’s capable, I agree."

"Good!"

Wan Meng agreed cheerfully.

"Fellow Daoist Shen, you should leave the Wei Family of White Crane Island soon."

Shen Xuan was taken aback.

"What’s the reason?"

Wan Meng spoke softly, "The reason can’t be revealed. In any case, Wan Meng is doing this for Fellow Daoist Shen’s benefit."

"I understand."

The Celestial Fragrance Pavilion definitely has secret channels to obtain some critical intelligence.

The Wei Family on White Crane Island is likely to face major trouble.

Wan Meng bowed slightly in greeting.

"Having met today, I wonder when we shall meet again."

"Wan Meng bids farewell. Fellow Daoist Shen, take care."

...

Shen Xuan rested at the Sect Inn for a night.

The following morning.

Shen Xuan arrived as promised at Weihai Immortal City’s port.

Patriarch Wei and others had been waiting on the Wei Family’s warship for a long time.

"Pill Master Shen has arrived, set sail!"

The Wei Family’s warship left the port, swiftly advancing.

Patriarch Wei chatted with Shen Xuan for a bit.

"By the way, Brother Wei, how many sets of Life Extension Pill materials were exchanged this time?"

"Only one set of Life Extension Pill materials were exchanged. President Zhuo said he would try to allocate more."

"Just one set?"

Shen Xuan appeared contemplative.

The attitude of the United Commerce Association is intriguing.

Connecting Wan Meng’s warnings and Zhuo Qingning’s mediation with Patriarch Lu, Shen Xuan felt the United Commerce Association was holding back in the pill refining collaboration with the Wei Family.

Clearly, it’s a profitable project.

The United Commerce Association didn’t seem very interested.

"Fortunately, only two bottles of Essence Blood are left, which will take half a year."

As per the agreement.

Deliver one bottle of Divine Turtle Essence Blood every three months according to the pill refining schedule.

In half a year, Shen Xuan will be able to refine them all, enhancing his Spirit Root talent.

As for refining the Life-Extending Pill and leaving its inheritance, to Shen Xuan, it’s just a slightly troublesome minor task.

He didn’t see it as particularly significant.

...

Half a year later.

Inside the Practice Room.

The Mysterious Jade Talisman flickered with golden light.

The Profound Ice Spirit Lotus in the Dantian slowly folded.

Shen Xuan finished refining the last bottle of Divine Turtle Essence Blood.

[Talent: Longevity Perfection (3200/3200)]

During these two essence blood refinements, the skill proficiency of [Longevity] did not change.

It seems it’s the realm cultivation that limits the skill cap.

Taking another step forward will lead to evolving Divine Power.

This barrier is even more important than a Great Realm breakthrough.

The gap in combat power between a True Pill True Master and a Fake Pill True Master lies in this Divine Power.

A Fake Pill True Master cannot unleash Divine Power.

No matter how strong your Spiritual Power, Divine Soul, Divine Sense, Flesh Body are, you cannot withstand the transformative Divine Power of a True Pill True Master.

"Just at the fifth layer of Foundation Establishment, even if various aspects are comparable to Foundation Establishment Perfection, I cannot withstand the spiritual power impact of Divine Power transformation."

Shen Xuan pondered secretly.

[Lifespan: 123/320]

The longevity effect is still very obvious.

According to Shen Xuan’s expectations, after Foundation Establishment Perfection, the lifespan should be more than 350 years.

Exceeding that of a Fake Pill True Master.

[Spirit Root: Water 88/100]

Only increased by two Water Spirit Root points.

This surprised Shen Xuan somewhat.

In all aspects.

The Divine Turtle Essence Blood is better than the Tiger-faced Flood Dragon.

However, the effectiveness in improving Spirit Root talent decreased a bit.

"It’s not due to the quality of essence blood."

"With Spirit Root talent increasing, the improvement requirements correspondingly rise."

Fortunately, the gains are still quite substantial.

[Dao Rhyme: 100288]

The Dao Rhyme Points have reached an impressive six-digit figure.

Now.

His main cultivation technique, main technique, and various important talent skills are steadily improving.

Within the constraints of realm cultivation, using Dao Rhyme Points is inefficient and not worth it.

The best effect of using Dao Rhyme Points.

Is during the entry level phase of a particular skill.

For example, the upcoming skill of refining Life-Extending Pills.

No need for multiple practices, you can use Dao Rhyme enlightenment to quickly advance to proficiency or even mastery.

Saving a lot of time and resources.

"I wonder what crisis the Wei Family will face."

"Hope they can hold on for a bit longer."

Having infiltrated the Wei Family on White Crane Island for four years to acquire Tier Three Spirit Beast Divine Turtle Essence Blood, Shen Xuan has achieved his initial goal.

However, barring life-threatening situations. 𝑓𝘳𝘦𝑒𝑤𝑒𝘣𝘯ℴ𝘷𝘦𝓁.𝑐𝑜𝑚

Shen Xuan will still, as agreed, fulfill the trade.

Help the Wei Family refine the Life-Extending Pill and hand over its inheritance to the Wei Family.

Unless absolutely necessary, Shen Xuan doesn’t want to breach the contract and betray trust.

Moreover.

The opportunity to refine Life-Extending Pills is extremely rare.

A single complete set of Life-Extending Pill materials is worth two million Spirit Stones.

Difficult to collect entirely, even though the market is eager for it.

Just about half a year.

He could then accomplish his mission and return to Cyan Cloud Sect.

After resting for two days.

Shen Xuan went to the Alchemy Room.

This is the fifth Life Extension Pill he refined.

Throughout this half year, the Wei Family and United Commerce Association collaborated on pill refining quite smoothly.

However, each time, only one set of materials for Life Extension Pill is provided.

"Pill Master Shen!"

Upon seeing Shen Xuan come in, both Wei Yating and Qing Feng Ming Yue respectfully saluted.

"No need for formalities."

"I will start solidifying the pill; watch closely."

One hour later.

Shen Xuan successfully solidified the pill.

A medicinal solution formed three Life Extension Pills.

Among them, one pill had clear Dao patterns, bright gloss, and the quality was close to a good grade.

Life Extension Pills are not like Spirit Gathering Pills or other regular spirit pills.

Cultivators can only take one or two in a lifetime without fear of pill toxins, and grade requirements are not high.

Good grade or excellent grade only increases lifespans by two or three years.

The price is only two or three times higher.

After all, cultivators value Life Extension Pills by the increased lifespan.

Shen Xuan stored the three Life Extension Pills in a medicine bottle and handed them to Wei Yating.

According to the trade agreement, regardless of the number of refined pills, they belong to the Wei Family.

"Yating, tell the Patriarch it’s time to refine new pills."