Eternal Life: I Can Harvest Demon Beast Talents

Chapter 184: Chapter 160: Such a Windfall, A Beauty’s Night Invitation

Only then did Lin Changheng reluctantly accept it, and the Wu Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator finally broke into a smile.

Clearly, a Tier Two Alchemist who achieved such a high success rate on his first attempt at refining a Foundation Establishment Pill had a boundless future, despite his age. In fact, the older Pill Masters became, the more exquisite their skills grew and the more in-demand they were. This made him someone worth the effort for both the cultivator and his family to wholeheartedly maintain ties with and do their utmost to befriend.

After some pleasant conversation, Lin Changheng saw the man to the gate. Before leaving, the Wu Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator clasped his fists in a salute and said with a smile, "Alchemist Lin, until we meet again," then flew away.

In the past, Lin Changheng would have found it hard to believe that a Foundation Establishment Cultivator would treat a "Qi Cultivation Cultivator" so politely.

But now, it was happening for real.

Returning to his courtyard, Lin Changheng looked at the gift basket. He could smell a faint Spirit Fragrance wafting from it, even through the red silk cover.

He lifted the cover and saw two Tier Two Spirit Fruits and several carefully sealed pieces of Tier Two Spirit Ore.

"So generous?"

Lin Changheng couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow.

He then recalled what the Wu Family’s Foundation Establishment Cultivator had mentioned: this Spirit Ore came from a mine owned by his family and could be used in the refining of Spiritual Artifacts to increase their Sharpness.

It was called Red Patterned Tungsten.

It was worth a considerable sum.

At least several hundred Spirit Stones.

Lin Changheng, however, knew this was a subtle way for the Changwu Mountain Wu Family to display its power, meant to make their offer more appealing.

...

He had just put the gift basket away, feeling pleased, and was about to sit down when another knock came from the door.

"Who is it now?"

"Alchemist Lin, I’ve heard so much about you."

Lin Changheng went to open the door and saw a portly, elderly man at the Peak of Qi Cultivation standing at the doorway, smiling at him.

He was also carrying a gift basket, which he promptly offered.

This time it was a shopkeeper from a store in the Immortal City, representing his own family in extending an olive branch.

Lin Changheng followed his routine of offering praise before politely declining, and tried to hand the gift basket back.

Upon hearing this, the portly man’s expression remained unchanged, and he insisted that Lin Changheng accept the basket.

When he saw Lin Changheng finally give in and accept it after some polite refusal, he too left, satisfied.

At this point, Lin Changheng understood. ’Recruiting me is the top priority for these factions, but if that fails, they still want to build a good relationship!’

’Unlike sects or lone cultivators, what family didn’t have a few promising juniors or rising talents in need of Foundation Establishment Pills?’

’It was a constant demand.’

’If that need disappeared, it meant the family was on the verge of decline, or even complete collapse.’

...

「For the next three days, it was much of the same.」

One after another, Foundation Establishment Cultivators and representatives from various families came to his door. Without exception, each carried a gift basket and visited with an exceptionally good attitude.

Lin Changheng was exhausted from repeating the same polite rejections countless times, but he felt quite fulfilled nonetheless.

It wasn’t because he’d befriended so many cultivators and families, but because the dozens of gift baskets were just that good!

’I stated my refusal upfront and tried to return the baskets. But they were the ones who insisted on shoving them back into my hands. They wouldn’t take no for an answer, so what could I do?’

’Besides, they weren’t asking for anything. It was purely a "visit" to "get acquainted."’

Each gift basket was quite valuable, ranging from one to two hundred Lower Grade Spirit Stones on the low end to five or six hundred on the high end, though most hovered around the two-hundred-Spirit-Stone mark.

In other words, from this round of gift-receiving alone, his gains were worth nearly ten thousand Lower Grade Spirit Stones.

Much faster than alchemy.

Lin Changheng couldn’t help but sigh at the thought. He finally understood just how good Fugui must have had it, getting married multiple times and constantly holding banquets for his newborn children just to rake in the gifts...

On the evening of the third day, Lin Changheng was eating a Spirit Fruit from some unknown Fellow Daoist, figuring that everyone who intended to visit had already done so. ’It should be over now,’ he thought. But just then, the knocking started again.

"Another one?"

Lin Changheng got up and opened the door, only to see a familiar face. It was a beautiful woman in a palace-style dress, her features as lovely as a painting. Who else could it be but his neighbor, Cui Jianshui, also known as Fairy Cui?

"Fairy Cui, you’ve come! It’s been a while. You’ve truly grown even more beautiful. For a moment there, I thought I was looking at the moon fairy Chang’e herself," Lin Changheng said with a warm smile.

"Brother Lin, you flatter me."

A visible trace of delight touched Cui Jianshui’s eyes as she gave a small, pleased smile.

"I hope I’m not disturbing you by coming today, Brother Lin? I’ve seen a constant stream of visitors at your door these past few days, so I didn’t dare impose."

"Not at all, I’m free right now."

Lin Changheng chuckled and stepped aside to let her in. The courtyard was, indeed, empty.

"That’s wonderful. But I’ve always been the one imposing on you at your home, Brother Lin. I was wondering if this time I might invite you over to my humble residence for a visit?"

"I’ve already prepared some wine. I could play the flute for you, Brother Lin, to help clear your mind and vent your frustrations... a demonstration of the wonders of a Sound Master. Would you do me the honor?"

Cui Jianshui invited him, her eyes soft and alluring, her breath as fragrant as an orchid.

"Oh?"

Lin Changheng raised an eyebrow slightly. "I’ve never truly experienced the wonders of Music Theory, nor do I know what makes a Sound Master so wondrous... It seems I have no choice but to accept your invitation today."

"Thank you for gracing me with your presence, Brother Lin. This way, please."

A look of delight crossed Cui Jianshui’s face as she immediately began to lead the way.

Lin Changheng casually activated the Restriction on his home. As he followed her, hands clasped behind his back, he admired her beautiful, delicate features. ’What a pity,’ he thought, his expression unchanging.

...

[Qingyin Cloud Residence].

After a glance at the plaque, Lin Changheng stepped into her home. Although the house had the same layout as his own Qingyuan Small Building, it was far more refined. It was clearly well-maintained, and a pleasant, refreshing fragrance filled the air.

The scent was akin to a woman’s subtle perfume.

It was both refreshing and delightful.

And with the two of them walking so closely, one behind the other, Lin Changheng couldn’t tell if the fragrance came from the room or from her.

"Brother Lin, please wait a moment."

The female cultivator turned back to close the door and activate the Restriction. Lin Changheng just stood there and waited with a smile.

"This way."

Cui Jianshui brushed a stray strand of dark hair from her forehead and gave Lin Changheng a coquettish smile. She boldly stepped forward, took his arm, and began leading him toward the inner room.

A conflicted look appeared on Lin Changheng’s face, as if he were wavering between acting the gentleman and indulging his inner beast. Then, his gaze firmed. He had made his decision.

His large hand took the opportunity to wrap around her impossibly soft and slender waist.

"Brother Lin... don’t be so impatient..."

A soft murmur escaped Cui Jianshui’s lips. She pressed his large hand with her own fair and delicate one as they quickened their pace into the inner room.

Inside, fine wine and delicacies were indeed prepared.

Pink gauze curtains billowed softly, creating a seductive atmosphere.

Parting the gauze curtains, they came to a table, and Cui Jianshui gently pressed Lin Changheng into a seat.

Her slender fingers then picked up a wine jug and cup. With a single, graceful spin that made her skirt flare out, she landed perfectly in Lin Changheng’s lap and began to pour.

"You’re playing with fire, Fairy Cui."

Lin Changheng felt every nerve ending tingle at her touch, and he spoke as if he could barely contain himself.

"Brother Lin, this fine wine is just the thing to put out the fire."

Fairy Cui leaned in close to Lin Changheng’s ear, her breath fragrant. A tingling sensation spread through him as something warm and soft brushed against his earlobe, as if he’d been licked.

"I’m afraid not..."

He accepted the cup of wine she offered and mumbled indistinctly.

"So be it. Or could it be that Brother Lin doesn’t trust my signature skills in the Dao of Music and Rhythm?"

Cui Jianshui’s hand drew circles on Lin Changheng’s chest.

"In that case, I await your performance, Fairy Cui."

Lin Changheng laughed heartily and continued to drink, downing cup after cup as if he couldn’t stop.

An unknown amount of time passed. The jug of wine was nearly empty. Lin Changheng, who seemed completely lost and intoxicated with his head buried between two peaks, admiring the "sunrise," suddenly raised an eyebrow. The corner of his mouth curled into a cold smile.

’Someone’s here.’

The Restriction was opened, and someone slipped in, silent as a shadow.

The intruder’s face was hidden, not by his own features, but by a bronze mask that could block spiritual perception.

Only a pair of eyes was visible, their gaze grim and cold, yet filled with a certain desire and... greed!

His build was lean, but he was clearly a man.

The aura he exuded was powerful—at the Peak of Qi Cultivation!

No weaker than Lin Changheng’s former self.

...

And at this moment, Lin Changheng seemed completely oblivious, still lost in the "scenery."

Cui Jianshui, her palace dress now in disarray, seemed to sense something. She trembled slightly, and to hide it, her slender arms wrapped around Lin Changheng even tighter.