Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age-Chapter 324 - 201: Profound Water Snake Bone

Li Nangua took the Barrier-Breaking Pill and entered the cultivation chamber.

This batch of pills yielded three furnaces, with five pills per furnace.

Fifteen pills in total; even without considering Li Nangua’s Spirit Body Talent, there was a ninety percent chance this would push her to the late stage of Qi Cultivation.

"Next, all that’s left is to wait for Nangua’s breakthrough. With a late-stage Qi Cultivator presiding over Lu Mansion, the clan would be protected for decades."

In a place like Platinum Immortal City, late-stage Qi Cultivators were already considered experts.

Back in the cultivation chamber, Lu Chang’sheng tidied up the puppet components scattered on the floor, as a method of puppet crafting surfaced in his mind.

Its name was "Black Water Profound Snake."

It was the only kind of puppet beast he could craft after attaining Great Success in the Puppetry Technique.

The jade scroll of Puppetry Technique obtained by Lu Chang’sheng did not mention other late-stage Qi Cultivation puppet beasts; it seemed Fang Yuan had deliberately removed this part. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝒆𝔀𝒆𝙗𝓷𝒐𝙫𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝓸𝓶

For cultivators at the late Qi Cultivation stage, the difficulty wasn’t too high.

Nowadays, even Lu Chang’sheng could barely erase the contents of some lower-tier jade scrolls.

"The Puppet Tiger should also be among them, but since it involves the puppet beast’s weaknesses, Fang Yuan erased it."

This was entirely normal.

The puppet crafting method contained many secrets about puppet beasts; knowing their weaknesses would naturally make it much easier for an enemy to counter them.

As someone who had spent years drifting at the late Qi Cultivation stage, Fang Yuan certainly had this degree of caution.

Reading the description of the Black Water Profound Snake, Lu Chang’sheng had a general idea in his mind.

Next up was material sourcing.

Lu Chang’sheng then tapped into his network, reaching out to the Fang, Qu, and other clans, asking them to keep an eye out for any news on materials for crafting the ’Black Water Profound Snake’ puppet beast.

To avoid making them suspicious, he even used a few concealing methods when handing over the materials, mixing in some items used for refining other pills.

The Qu, Huang, Chen, and a few other families did not suspect anything, while Fang Yuan of the Fang Family was away from the clan; the current clan leader, Fang Shan, said he had left Platinum Immortal City.

"In recent years, the Old Ancestor has been coming and going so often, it feels like his legs are about to give out. He’s told me more than once it feels like his old leg pain is acting up."

Before Fang Yuan ever set foot on the cultivation path, he spent a period in the mortal world and developed chronic cold in his legs.

After reaching success in cultivation, such mundane illnesses were easily cured.

Although it was said in jest, it also showed just how hard Fang Yuan worked.

Lu Chang’sheng felt a little embarrassed inside, and said: "If he returns, let him know that the matter he’s always cared about has finally been resolved."

Best to let Old Fang’s mind be at peace.

Fang Shan froze for a moment, then instantly understood.

Between the two clans, the matter that he’d always cared for was no longer a secret.

"The pill—is it done?"

"It’s done!"

Lu Chang’sheng replied with a smile.

Fang Shan took a deep breath and sighed, "Alchemist Lu, you truly have extraordinary talent. In fact, I now feel that you may be wasting your potential staying at the White Cloud Cave Mansion."

"Why do you say so?" Lu Chang’sheng’s interest was piqued.

Though he had deliberately tried understanding the world over the years, compared to someone like Fang Shan, who had moved through Guangnan Domain for ages, he still knew much less.

"If you ask where alchemists most yearn to go, it has to be Heaven-Burning Valley, a Golden Core Immortal Sect. It’s rumored they’ve even produced a Nascent Soul True Monarch."

A Nascent Soul True Monarch meant there was Nascent Soul heritage there.

One day, he would certainly go and take a look.

But for now, it was definitely not feasible; not that he was unwilling, but given his current standing in the outside world, he’d likely be turned away.

His Immortal Dao Spirit Root was far too poor—without sufficient cultivation, an Immortal Sect like Heaven-Burning Valley would never accept him.

"We’ll see." Lu Chang’sheng made a mental note of the matter, then turned and left.

Once Lu Chang’sheng had walked off into the distance, Fang Shan hurriedly produced a Sound Transmission Shell, channeled magical power into it, and tried to connect with Fang Yuan’s shell.

Unfortunately, there was no response even after a long wait.

"Has he gone too far afield?"

The Sound Transmission Shell’s range had its limits—the actual distance depended on the grade of spirit array within.

The one he held could only reach within five hundred li; any further, and there was nothing to do.

Fang Shan had to give up.

Since the matter was already settled, it wouldn’t be a big deal even if he waited for the Old Ancestor’s return.

Afterward, Lu Chang’sheng made a trip to the Glazed Glass Trading House to inform Liu Yun and ask him to keep an eye out as well.

Business-minded folk like him would certainly oblige; Liu Yun even produced some of the materials on the spot.

"Fellow Daoist, you must mean these things," Liu Yun said, his smile dazzling.

Nearby, another employee from the trading house’s eyes flickered with surprise at Liu Yun’s sudden shift in demeanor.

Ever since the morning, Liu Yun hadn’t looked too cheerful.

Earlier, he’d made a questionable decision: when the company’s ship returned, he’d chosen to stock up mainly on talisman paper and magical artifacts.

The thing was, pills were a bit pricey for the largest segment—the common loose cultivators—so he’d focused on talisman paper and artifacts as main cargo.

As well as associated materials.

For example, the blood, fur, and bones of demonic beasts used in talisman paper making.

Every year, the marketplace showed enormous demand.

But unexpectedly, since Master Baiyun had fallen and external conflicts intensified, demand for all these items increased.

Talisman paper, artifacts, and pills included.

The main warring forces were the various powers of Platinum Immortal City.

Comparatively, the demand for talisman paper and artifacts had not shifted much; and pills were far more profitable.

The recent trip had made a tidy sum, but for Liu Yun, it was a misstep in judgment.

No wonder his mood was sour.

Yet the moment he saw Lu Chang’sheng, the smile blossomed.

And it was no polite, professional smile, but a sincerely heartfelt one.

"How influential must this Alchemist Lu be, to earn such regard from the manager?"

The other employee mused.

"Profound Water Snake scales, Profound Water Snake main spine..."

Lu Chang’sheng examined the items within the Immortal Insect treasure vault.

One was a perfectly preserved snake skeleton from a Profound Water Snake, at least four or five zhang long, coiled up inside the vault, with other materials from the same beast arranged nearby.

Judging from the look of it, it all came from the same Profound Water Snake.

"How much for all this?" Lu Chang’sheng asked.

"I’ve had these materials for some time. A few years ago, someone in Liuyun Immortal City offered twenty spirit stones, but I didn’t sell," Liu Yun replied, glancing at Lu Chang’sheng.

"Middle-grade spirit stones?"

"Middle-grade spirit stones!"

"Not expensive!"

A Profound Water Snake skeleton with bones four or five zhang long was definitely an adult, at least at the late Qi Cultivation stage.

Twenty middle-grade spirit stones was honestly quite cheap.

One middle-grade stone equaled a thousand lower-grade stones, so that was twenty thousand total.

Of course, if Liu Yun wouldn’t sell, the price was moot—but the fact that someone offered that much and Liu Yun brought it up meant it was close to his heart.

"How about this: I’ll buy them for twenty-five thousand lower-grade spirit stones?"

Lu Chang’sheng proposed.

Liu Yun shook his head and replied, "To be frank, I once paid eighteen thousand lower-grade spirit stones to buy these from a loose cultivator. Do you think I’d part with them for just a few spirit stones?"

Lu Chang’sheng frowned slightly.

Liu Yun dropped the pretense, saying: "I bought these to give away, not sell. The question is, would Fellow Daoist accept?"

Lu Chang’sheng understood at once.

Liu Yun had acquired these materials to use as a favor.

This made him hesitate.

Favors were hard to repay. He was no longer the newcomer who’d just arrived in the Spirit Realm; having found his footing in Platinum Immortal City, he couldn’t just casually accept such a favor anymore.

But Liu Yun then explained: "No need for concern, Alchemist Lu. I only hope you’ll serve as an Honored Guest Elder for my Glazed Glass Trading House."

"Honored Guest Elder?"

"Yes, an honorary position. If we need pills refined, I’d let you know; you can accept as you see fit. Declining is perfectly fine. Honestly, I just want to trade these materials for your network, Alchemist Lu."

Liu Yun’s words struck Lu Chang’sheng as slightly odd.

He even sensed a trace of humility.

Was it really warranted?

You were the manager of Glazed Glass Trading House, even if it’s just a branch—still, it’s the Glazed Glass Trading House.

"Thank you for your regard. Allow me some time to consider."

Lu Chang’sheng said thoughtfully after some hesitation.

Liu Yun’s manner was rather unusual, so he’d best be prudent.