Chapter 445: Five Years of Progress, Changes in the Song Territory

Chapter 445 -275: Five Years of Progress, Changes in the Song Territory

But Lin Changheng had his Fifth Layer Enhanced Enlightenment. He first confirmed the idea’s feasibility before beginning to experiment and deduce.

He sought new points of compatibility to adjust and improve the Abnormal Technique.

This was the mindset and personality Lin Changheng had developed from his scientific training in his past life: he was never content with the status quo.

Instead, he sought change and innovation wherever possible.

Currently, the most powerful Fire Element Power in his possession was the Red Sky Profound Flame, which was at the Tier Two Upper Grade, not far from reaching Tier Three.

If he could synergize and stack it with the Divine Blood Curse Seal Technique, its effects would naturally be greatly enhanced.

He could even integrate the Fire Poison Demon Technique to serve as a means of “enhanced control.” After all, the Fire Poison was exceptionally potent, having undergone five instances of Spirit Stealing and Metamorphosis. The pain it caused was excruciating. If it breached the defenses of even a Fake Core cultivator and invaded their body, the agony would be unbearable.

…

「Two months later.」

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged.

Using his finger as a brush, the void as paper, and a “blood-thread” as ink, he simultaneously employed the True Intent of his Fire Manipulation Divine Abilities to meticulously control the output of the Red Sky Profound Flame and began to sketch.

HUMMM—

A runic trajectory composed of pure, radiant flames was left in the air.

But now, this radiant flame was tinged with a strand of dark gold.

A Dark Gold Curse Seal, with an even more complex structure, condensed to the size of a fist and shaped like a miniature, roaring Fire Demon, suddenly took form.

It was more condensed and its might more oppressive than before!

The dark gold color was not a simple change in hue, but a fundamental enhancement of the Curse Seal’s essence.

It floated in the air, no longer a mere convergence of light and heat. It was more like a mysterious, tangible aggregate of Fire Element Runes. As it slowly rotated, even the surrounding light seemed to collapse inward, as if unable to bear its immense power.

Lin Changheng could clearly feel that his connection to this Dark Gold Curse Seal had not weakened. On the contrary, it had grown stronger. However, the Power of the Divine Soul and Magical Power required to control it had also increased severalfold.

It was no longer just a “mark” or a “bomb.” It was more like a living, dormant beast, containing a heart-pounding destructive energy waiting to be unleashed.

Should it strike a Core Formation Cultivator and enter their body, they would most likely face a terrible ordeal.

A sense of accomplishment welled up in Lin Changheng’s heart.

At the same time, he had already formed a basic idea for how to further integrate the Fire Poison Demon Technique.

‘This is the Second Layer of the Divine Blood Curse Seal Technique,’ he mused. ‘I’ve pushed its limits before and found I can only maintain two external Curse Seals at once. Any more, and they start to break down and lose control.’

‘The enhanced version, stacked with the Red Sky Profound Flame, has the same limitation…’

Lin Changheng had explored this quite thoroughly. It meant that he could use this method to control two Cultivators.

But for Lin Changheng, that was enough.

…

During this period, Lin Changheng had been so engrossed in studying the Abnormal Technique that he was completely oblivious to the happenings of the Outer World.

Therefore, he didn’t know that in the Outer World, the name “Alchemist Lin” was once again spreading far and wide.

It had spread not only through the Purple Extreme Sect’s territory but also into the domains of the nearby Bixiao Sect and Profound Ice Valley.

The crucial factor was that Elder Kong’s reputation as a Tier Three Pill Master was at its peak, which in turn fanned the flames of Lin Changheng’s fame.

Whether it was sending a True Inheritance disciple to offer birthday congratulations or gifting his personal Pill Furnace and self-refined Elixirs, Elder Kong’s actions showed how highly he regarded Lin Changheng, reflecting their unusual relationship.

One must understand, connections are everything when you’re trying to make it. In all his years of Cultivation, Lin Changheng, mostly a Loose Cultivator, had always relied on himself. He had never imagined a day like this.

So, when he emerged from his seclusion and heard this news from Yan Mingyi, a flicker of surprise crossed his eyes, but he quickly accepted it with composure.

“I understand.”

Lin Changheng nodded with a smile.

One had to look at things from all angles. Now that things had come to this, all Lin Changheng could do was make full use of the advantages and do his best to mitigate any negative consequences.

Then, Lin Changheng asked, “By the way, have the gifts from the birthday banquet been sorted?”

Many guests had attended the last birthday celebration, all bringing gifts. Lin Changheng had only personally accepted the valuable presents from the Huang Family, Elder Kong, and a few others. The rest had been placed together at the reception area on the plaza, piled on tables.

Yan Mingyi had later collected and organized them. Lin Changheng’s mind had been elsewhere at the time, so he hadn’t asked about it. Now that he had a spare moment, he finally brought it up.

“Of course.”

Yan Mingyi chuckled softly, covering her mouth. In her, the playful charm of a young maiden and the gentle grace of a young matron blended seamlessly. Her allure in that instant was such that even Lin Changheng couldn’t help but steal a few extra glances. “Please see for yourself, Husband.”

She placed a bulging Storage Bag in Lin Changheng’s hands, and at the same time, passed him a Jade Scroll that recorded the inventory.

Lin Changheng gave it a quick scan, and a hint of surprise appeared in his eyes.

The list contained nearly a hundred entries.

This meant they had received nearly a hundred gifts.

The value of each gift varied, but they were mostly hard-currency materials like Spiritual Materials and Spiritual Ores, or items that could enhance one’s Cultivation, like Spirit Fruits and Spirit Medicine.

But each one was worth over three hundred Spirit Stones.

If the value was too low, a Foundation Establishment Cultivator wouldn’t dare present it. It would be better not to give a gift or show up at all.

Those presented in the name of a family or an Influence were generally double in value.

Lin Changheng scanned directly to the bottom, where a basic valuation of the gifts was listed: nearly forty thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones!

And that didn’t even include the ones Lin Changheng had accepted personally.

That was enough to purchase a Masterpiece Foundation Establishment Pill, with some to spare.