Chapter 86: Chapter 86: Is This a Freebie?
With the help of the Earth Dragon True Blood, Xu Chang’an successfully advanced to a Lower-class Bloodline.
His daily cultivation speed would see a certain degree of improvement.
An increase of thirty-six years to his lifespan!
But the benefits didn’t stop there.
Xu Chang’an could clearly sense that the toughness of his Demon Body had reached a new level.
If it was previously comparable to the toughest Middle-grade Magical Artifacts, it had now reached the level of a Top-grade Magical Artifact.
He could go toe-to-toe with an ordinary Top-grade Magical Artifact.
As for the fine scales along his spine, their Defense was comparable to even tougher Top-grade Magical Artifacts.
His claws and teeth could now each be considered a Top-grade Magical Artifact.
From this point on, ordinary Top-grade Magical Artifacts were of no use to Xu Chang’an.
’Good thing I got a Supreme-grade Magical Artifact and a Quasi-Magical Treasure!
Otherwise, I’d soon be in a situation where I owned Magical Artifacts that were completely useless to me!’
Xu Chang’an mused for a moment.
Then, he began to acclimate to his new changes.
He could now grow to a maximum height of forty feet, or shrink to the size of a common little mouse.
A forty-foot-tall Demon Body was a colossal figure to most Qi Refining Demons.
But among Foundation Establishment Great Demons, it was still considered small.
The Elephant Demon from before, for instance, had a massive body standing two hundred feet tall!
And Cheng Mengying, that little lioness, was seventy or eighty feet tall.
’Next!’
Xu Chang’an’s gaze sharpened as he took out a large quantity of Elixirs, Spiritual Herbs and Plants, and Ore from his Storage Bag.
’Let’s see just how far these spoils will take me!?’
He swallowed the Elixirs one by one!
A warm current surged, coursed through his entire body, and then vanished.
Inside the cave, a Mouse Demon sat cross-legged, continuously devouring items.
Time trickled by, but Xu Chang’an showed no signs of stopping.
As one of the most valued Demons of the younger generation in Lion’s Mane Cave, even without counting the Quasi-Magical Treasure, Cheng Mengying’s wealth was enough to rival that of several Foundation Establishment Great Demons.
She had a vast collection of Elixirs and Spirit Plant and Medicine.
And that was on top of the Elephant Demon’s share.
The panel also needed time to absorb the Energy; it wasn’t an instantaneous process.
After consuming things for over two hours, Xu Chang’an finally stopped.
Name: Xu Chang’an
Bloodline: Earth Rock Rat (Lower-class Bloodline)
Lifespan: 168 years
Realm: Early-stage Foundation Establishment
Skills: Alchemy (Quasi-Second Tier)
Energy: (1596/2000)
...
’Over fifteen hundred points of Energy!’
The two thousand Energy points required by the panel were not for crossing a Minor Tier, but for a Major Tier breakthrough within the Foundation Establishment Realm.
Once his Energy reached two thousand, he could use the panel to enter the Mid-stage Foundation Establishment.
With an accumulation of over fifteen hundred points, if calculated according to actual Realm progression, he had already reached the Peak of Early-stage Foundation Establishment.
Although he couldn’t convert it just yet, the progress bar indicated as much.
The usual progression was Early-stage, Early-stage Minor Achievement, Early-stage Major Achievement, and Peak of Early-stage!
Increased lifespan, improved Bloodline aptitude, and Energy accumulation for his panel—all matters had been properly taken care of.
After using his Demon Sense to place an imprint on the Jade Ruyi, Xu Chang’an managed to absorb it into his body.
The residual Demon Power on the Jade Ruyi had yet to be refined, which would take a considerable amount of time. It was better to absorb it first and deal with it later.
Then, he took a few Healing Elixirs, but instead of resting quietly to recover from his injuries, he immediately concealed his aura and headed for the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace.
The battle and the inventory of his spoils had already wasted a lot of time.
He was supposed to be at Yinlu Square, indulging himself with the Fox Girl and Rabbit Spirit.
If he delayed any longer and failed to return to the Marketplace in time, he might be found out.
While it might not have an immediate impact, it was still a significant flaw in his alibi.
...
Xu Chang’an traveled swiftly. As he neared the Marketplace, he switched to traveling on land and proceeded with a low profile.
After concealing his aura, he stealthily slipped into the Marketplace.
He then entered his private room at Yinlu Square.
Nearly half a day had passed since Xu Chang’an had left.
Night had fallen long ago, and it was now deep into the early morning hours.
On the bed, the Fox Girl and the Rabbit Spirit were still unconscious.
Xu Chang’an entered quietly without waking the two Demons.
He lay down beside them and closed his eyes to rest.
’This time, I obtained a Quasi-Magical Treasure, successfully improved my Bloodline aptitude, and my panel’s Energy is more than halfway full.
With this, I am one step closer to my Tier Two goal!’
According to his original plan, he would have needed to accumulate power and resources on Langlang Mountain for at least another ten years.
Only after his strength and foundation had reached a certain level would he choose to leave Langlang Mountain.
But with his current gains, the time he needed to accumulate has been greatly shortened. His departure from Langlang Mountain would likely be much sooner!
In a way, he was indebted to Langlang Mountain.
When he had just embarked on the Demon Path and was still weak, it had provided him with protection and a stable living environment.
But now, the pond of Langlang Mountain had become a bit too shallow for him.
With his current strength, not even Jin Yuanba would be his match.
A great dragon cannot be raised in shallow waters.
He understood this principle.
Though he wasn’t a dragon, he needed a bigger stage, both to accumulate his panel’s Energy and to advance his Alchemy Skill.
And neither Langlang Mountain nor Lujiao Mountain Marketplace could satisfy his needs!
A sliver of fish-belly white gradually appeared in the dark sky, which then slowly turned blue.
Sunlight scattered down, illuminating the Lujiao Mountain Marketplace and the eaves of Yinlu Square’s roof.
"Sir, please come play again soon!"
"Take care, sir! We welcome you to visit again."
Amidst the chorus of farewells from the Little Demons, a refreshed Xu Chang’an walked out the main doors of Yinlu Square.
He walked all the way back to the Langlang Mountain Elixir Workshop.
"Elder Grey Rat, you’re finally back!"
A Little Demon immediately came up to greet Xu Chang’an upon seeing him.
"What is it?"
Xu Chang’an asked, puzzled.
"That Miss Cheng from Lion’s Mane Cave came looking for you early this morning!
When she heard you weren’t here, she nearly tore the Elixir Workshop down."
"Looking for me!? Where is she now?"
Xu Chang’an had a rough idea what this was about, but he put on a look of surprise.
"She’s waiting for you on the fourth floor right now!"
"Alright."
Xu Chang’an nodded and immediately headed upstairs.
...
As Xu Chang’an walked up to the fourth floor of the Elixir Workshop, he immediately spotted a young woman in a purple dress sitting in the courtyard pavilion.
At this moment, the young woman’s face was pale and completely drained of color.
Who else could it be but that little lioness from Lion’s Mane Cave?
Seeing Cheng Mengying sitting there so demurely in the pavilion, Xu Chang’an found it somewhat amusing.
’Yesterday, you were the one who saw me and tried to flee for your life. Now, you’re the one serving yourself up on a silver platter!
What’s the meaning of this!? Is this a freebie!?’
"You’re finally back. I find it strange. As the Chief Alchemist,
what were you doing running around outside late at night instead of staying in your Elixir Workshop!"
The purple-dressed young woman’s tone was as spoiled and domineering as ever.
However, with her pale lips, colorless face, and weakened spirit, she was a far cry from her former self.
She had been grievously injured in yesterday’s battle.
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