Chapter 88: Chapter 88: Enviable Talents
However, he was momentarily conflicted about whether to use Spirit Stealing on this blood.
There was a risk he might not be able to collect more later, but this extremely high-level Essence Blood could also help him quickly figure out the rules of the Primordial Cauldron’s Spirit Stealing.
He could build a more comprehensive understanding and better plan his future Talents.
’For instance, is the progress gained from Spirit Stealing Essence Blood related to the Demon Beast’s Cultivation and strength? If so, what’s the relationship?’
’Are there also only five Species Positions in the inner circle?’
’What about the rules for moving an inner circle Treasure Seed outward? Do all the Species Positions of a [certain level] have to be "occupied" through Spirit Stealing, and then one emptied through Metamorphosis, before that spot transforms into a Species Position for a [higher-level] Treasure Seed?’
’Previously, when a [Muddy Evil Level] Treasure Seed moved out into an empty [Mortal Filth Species Position], did that mean one [Muddy Evil Species Position] was added? Could it increase by up to five, for a total of ten?’
The information was fragmented and chaotic. He had many theories but no clear leads; only through practice could he find the answers.
Lin Changheng gazed at the drop of mercury-like, pale cyan Essence Blood in his hand, his eyes flickering.
If he used Spirit Stealing on this high-level, Tier Three Essence Blood, everything would fall into place. He would finally have a thread to follow, and by combining it with what he already knew, he could deduce the rest.
Besides, he was quite curious about what Talent he might acquire from Spirit Stealing this High Tier Essence Blood.
’I’ll follow my gut!’
Lin Changheng had finally made his decision.
His gaze firm, he communicated directly with his Sea of Consciousness Primordial Cauldron.
"Spirit Stealing!"
WHOOSH!
The Primordial Cauldron erupted with a Cyan Mist, and the Essence Blood in his hand vanished.
In the next instant, clouds of mist billowed, and the phantom of a pale cyan Treasure Seed slowly took shape within the Primordial Cauldron.
It spun steadily in the innermost circle, showing no sign of moving toward the empty slots in the outer circle.
’The proportion of space this new seed occupies is identical to that of a Mortal Filth Treasure Seed. It’s one-fifth of the total, which confirms that the inner circle also has five Species Positions.’
Lin Changheng understood immediately. He watched the spinning Treasure Seed and began to ponder. ’Previously, only after five [Mortal Filth] Treasure Seeds had filled their positions and one was emptied through Metamorphosis did a spot unlock to be occupied by the new [Muddy Evil Essence Blood]. But this new, even higher-level Treasure Seed hasn’t occupied the empty [Muddy Evil Level] Species Position. This must mean... if a lower tier’s Species Positions haven’t been completely filled with five seeds through Spirit Stealing, a higher-level Treasure Seed cannot move there.’
’So, this prevents a High Tier Treasure Seed from taking over a Low Tier Species Position that hasn’t completed Metamorphosis, which would waste a slot?’
The explanation seemed logically sound. With that thought, Lin Changheng reached out and touched the newly formed Treasure Seed.
[Wind-Split Demon Falcon Treasure Species - Spirit Stealing Metamorphosis]
[Spirit Stealing: 2/100]
...
Seeing this, Lin Changheng’s eyes immediately lit up.
It wasn’t just because he had finally learned the name of this Demon Bird—the Wind-Split Demon Falcon.
It was also because this one drop of Essence Blood had yielded two points of Spirit Stealing progress!
Previously, it took two portions of Essence Blood from a Tier One Demon Beast to accumulate a single point. This was a four-fold increase.
Lin Changheng was starting to figure things out. There was some connection between Cultivation and Essence Blood, likely related to a transformation in one’s very level of existence.
The Wind-Split Demon Falcon was most likely a Muddy Core Demon Bird, equivalent to a human Fake Core Cultivator.
A Muddy Pill was Tier Three, and a Fake Core was still a form of Core Formation!
He could basically deduce that he would only need fifty drops, or fifty portions, of this Essence Blood to complete the Spirit Stealing First Layer.
How many drops of Essence Blood could one Wind-Split Demon Falcon produce? Surely more than a Tier One Demon Beast.
By this calculation, the pressure of future Spirit Stealing didn’t seem so immense. Demon Hunting was a viable method.
It was a better option than his current method, where raising Tamed Beasts was the main way to get a large supply.
He read on.
[Utility: Possesses the Nether Void Bloodline and is naturally born with the Wind Attribute. Has the Lifebound Talents "Blade-Slicing Wind," "Roaring Wind Soul," and "Cyan Eye Observation." Upon Spirit Stealing Success, one can be chosen to be Refined into the body.]
’Hiss... Such Talents?’
Lin Changheng couldn’t help but take a sharp breath.
[Blade-Slicing Wind] was clearly a powerful offensive Talent, and it might even enhance his speed.
As for [Roaring Wind Soul], the "Roaring Wind" part easily brought to mind the worldly martial arts technique, "Lion’s Roar." However, its target was different. It wasn’t the ears, but the Divine Soul; it could launch a Divine Soul attack.
[Cyan Eye Observation] was most likely related to the farsight Talent common among birds. The ability to "Observe the Micro," as its name implied, seemed quite extraordinary and would make for an excellent support ability.
As expected of a creature with the Nether Void Bloodline, a suspected Muddy Core Demon Beast—all three Talents made Lin Changheng burn with desire.
He wished he could use Spirit Stealing to claim them for himself right away.
But that was just a fleeting thought. For now, he had to take it one honest step at a time and first focus on perfectly accumulating the [Mortal Filth] and [Muddy Evil] bloodlines.
He could have aspirations, but he couldn’t afford to be overambitious.
Lin Changheng was well aware of this.
On a whim, Lin Changheng tried using Spirit Stealing on the remaining Feather, but the Primordial Cauldron gave no reaction. He placed it back in the box and sealed it with a Talisman.
This would lock in its Spiritual Qi, preserving it for future use.
...
For the next two days, Lin Changheng spent his time out and about.
He focused on two main tasks.
First, his continuous efforts with Poison Transformation on the Black Armored Earth Turtle’s Turtle Eggs had shown considerable results, and their condition had improved significantly.
However, the Life Force of the Turtle Eggs remained weak and needed to be replenished.
Shopkeeper Liu had proven to be a decent businessman. While he couldn’t help with the detoxification, he had included a Beast Taming Formula for concocting a Spirit Liquid to nourish the Turtle Eggs.
It was meant to enhance their Life Force.
The formula also noted that grinding a Wood Element Pill used for advancing one’s Cultivation into powder and mixing it with the Spirit Liquid would produce a synergistic effect, making the whole greater than the sum of its parts.
So, in addition to buying the medicinal materials for the Spirit Liquid, he also purchased the ingredients needed for the Wood Element Pill Formula.
Second, he went around placing large pre-orders everywhere for Demon Beast Essence Blood of the [Muddy Evil Bloodline].
However, the feedback he received wasn’t optimistic. The various shops told him not to get his hopes up and mentioned a crucial point:
Only shops run by Foundation Establishment Clans were likely to have this type of Essence Blood in any significant quantity; Qi Cultivation Clans only ever received some occasionally.
They kindly pointed him toward the [Spirit Fox Beast Pavilion].
Lin Changheng scratched the back of his head, explaining that he had just come from there.
Hearing this, many of the shopkeepers simply threw up their hands, powerless to help. In that case, they said, his only option was a large store run by a great Cultivation Family like the Beast Taming Sun Family.
Lin Changheng already knew that, but the problem was the Beast Taming Sun Family didn’t focus their operations here.
From what he had gradually pieced together from various books and records,
He knew that the Cultivation Realm of the Song Country bordered the Wilderness and governed sixty-three mortal commanderies with a population numbering in the billions.
Its internal power structure was a stable pyramid.
The strongest Influence was the [Extreme South Palace], presided over by a Nascent Soul True Monarch whose might held sway over the entire region and controlled the Song Territory.
Below it were three major Sects and two great Daoist Sects.
Each Sect and Daoist Sect had several Core Formation experts in residence, along with dozens of Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Their power was immense, and they each governed a territory, managing the Cultivators on behalf of the [Extreme South Palace].
The [Purple Extreme Sect], the Upper Sect he had heard Cultivators mention, was one of these three major Sects.
After them came the Nine Great Cultivation Families.
Each possessed Fake Core experts and multiple Foundation Establishment Cultivators.
Further down the hierarchy were the numerous Foundation Establishment and Qi Cultivation Clans, as well as the scattered Loose Cultivators.
Unlike the Talisman-Making Song Family, which established shops in all sorts of promising Marketplaces,
the Beast Taming Sun Family concentrated its strength, focusing all its efforts on managing a single Immortal City and a few major Marketplaces.
...
"Not necessarily."
Hearing Lin Changheng’s dilemma, one of the shopkeepers gave a mysterious smile and shared a piece of news.
"The Immortal City was too conspicuous, drawing all the attention to one place. The Upper Sects have disliked this for a long time and have been actively suppressing it. Now, the Beast Taming Sun Family is stretched thin and has been forced to adopt the Song Family’s model."
