In truth, thanks to the Enhanced Enlightenment from his Origin Treasure Seed, Second Layer, Lin Changheng’s Qi Concealing Skill had already reached the Great Success stage.

Now, with the addition of the Spirit Stealing Third Layer Treasures, it had naturally progressed to the realm of Perfection.

One could say he knew the skill like the back of his hand.

Not only could he conceal his own aura and cultivation, but he could also deduce another person’s approximate cultivation level by analyzing the fluctuations they produced when using the very same skill.

"You know this as well?"

A brilliant light flashed in Tantai Feiyue’s star-like eyes as she looked at Lin Changheng as if he were a divine being.

"Practice makes perfect. I know a thing or two."

Lin Changheng left it at that, not elaborating further.

Tantai Feiyue nodded, noncommittal, and changed the subject to her own situation. "Brother Lin is right. I am indeed about to enter the Fifth Layer of Qi Cultivation, and I’m confident I can break through any day now. But what makes me feel rather helpless is that the road ahead will likely be extremely difficult. The potential of a Lower Grade Spirit Root with only twelve wisps of Spiritual Charm truly has its limits..."

"If I want to advance any further, I’m afraid I’ll have to rely on piling up massive amounts of resources. Otherwise, I have an extremely strong premonition that the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation will be the end of my Immortal Path." 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

Tantai Feiyue brushed a stray lock of hair from her forehead as she bared her heart. Though her expression was calm, a trace of sorrow and bitterness was still visible.

Lin Changheng nodded silently. He understood this feeling all too well.

"That’s why I’ve bound myself completely to the Xu Family. It’s a relationship of mutual benefit, all to advance further on the Talisman Dao. I use my skills to acquire resources, which in turn feeds my cultivation, allowing me to walk further on the Immortal Path..."

As Tantai Feiyue spoke, she turned to face the Black Water River. A gust of wind blew from the river, lifting her skirts and making her look like a Fairy who had descended to the mortal realm.

"Heh. Your path is not a lonely one."

At that moment, Princess Tantai’s silhouette revealed a hint of fragility, a stark contrast to her earlier confidence and grace. Lin Changheng stepped forward to stand beside her, both of them facing the moonlit Black Water River. "Am I not also using the Alchemy Dao to support my cultivation? Compared to you, Feiyue, I even have a Mixed Spirit Root, but didn’t I break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation all the same?"

"The Celestial Dao may be unkind and unfeeling, but it doesn’t necessarily close off every path. Whether you can seize that sliver of hope depends on you: whether you want to grasp it, whether you can grasp it, and whether you’ll fight with everything you have to grasp it..."

Tantai Feiyue was stunned. Hearing Lin Changheng’s words ignited a new fire of passion and fighting spirit within her already resolute heart, which was prepared to fight with her back against the wall.

’That’s right. Cultivation is a battle against oneself, against others, and against the heavens. It is an act of defying fate, of seizing the creation of heaven and earth. What is there to fear?’

Tantai Feiyue was already intelligent. After this insight, she came to a realization, her eyes growing even brighter. "Thank you for your guidance, Brother Lin."

"Think nothing of it."

Lin Changheng reached out and playfully ruffled the Commandery Princess’s hair, shaking his head with a smile. "In the future, I can also provide you with elixirs. But you’ll need to work hard and start drawing Tier One Middle Grade Masterpiece Talismans soon. Genuine-grade talismans aren’t quite enough for me anymore."

Evidently, Tantai Feiyue had, at some unknown point, secretly become a Middle Grade Talisman Master—a secret known only to the two of them.

This was not a one-sided gift from Lin Changheng; it was a trade for their mutual benefit.

Currently, the number of Tier One Middle Grade Talismans in his Storage Bag could be counted in stacks, all of them crafted by Tantai Feiyue’s hand.

The sense of security that came from having such abundant firepower was self-evident!

Furthermore, he had been consistently obtaining his Pan Mountain Turtle Essence Blood through her.

He, on the other hand, had only been providing her with Tier One Lower Grade Masterpiece Wood Element Pills, because he lacked a Wood Element Middle Grade Pill Formula.

All things considered, he had been taking great advantage of her over the past few years.

...

"Could it be..."

Tantai Feiyue froze, her star-like eyes filled with astonishment. She even forgot to swat away Lin Changheng’s mischievous hand, because she had heard a shocking implication in his words.

’He can already refine... Tier One Middle Grade Masterpiece Pills?’

’I thought that by breaking through to become a Middle Grade Talisman Master, I had finally caught up and was strong enough. But it seems I’m still not good enough compared to Brother Lin...’

A mix of complex emotions washed over her, but joy was the dominant one.

But what she didn’t know was that her Brother Lin was hiding even more...

Producing Masterpiece Pills from a single furnace batch could mean one pill, or it could mean many.

Otherwise, her shock would have been even greater.

...

「Three days later.」

When Lin Changheng emerged from his Alchemy Room, he saw someone waiting for him outside the door—a person he never would have expected.

Lü Bailian, Alchemist Lü.

The very same Registered Honored Guest Elixir Master who had once competed with him for the Middle Grade Alchemy secret, only to be "narrowly defeated."

"Alchemist Lü? Are you waiting for me?"

Lü Bailian seemed lost in thought. He looked up at the sound of Lin’s voice, instantly putting on a smile and bowing. "Indeed. I have some questions about the Alchemy Dao that I’d like to ask Brother Lin. I’ve come to impose, but I was hoping you might be able to offer some guidance."

He adopted a very humble posture, as if he were a junior or a disciple.

Whether it was his past defeat or Lin Changheng’s current status as a Middle Grade Alchemist and an official Honored Guest Elder, Lü Bailian was in no position to compare.

Lin Changheng’s prior impression of Lü Bailian had been positive. The man had accepted his defeat gracefully. So, Lin Changheng smiled and said, "It’s not about giving guidance. There’s no harm in us exchanging some insights on the Alchemy Dao."

Lü Bailian was overjoyed. He followed Lin Changheng into the Alchemy Room to ask his questions, which were mainly about the Medicine Combination and Hidden Refining aspects of Middle Grade Alchemy.

Lin Changheng’s progress in the Alchemy Dao was now extraordinary. With just a few incisive words, he pinpointed and dispelled the doubts about Middle Grade Alchemy that had plagued Lü Bailian for years, leading him to a sudden enlightenment.

"Thank you for dispelling my confusion, Master Lin!"

His confusion resolved, Lü Bailian felt as though he had woken from a dream. His understanding of Middle Grade Alchemy became clear and unobstructed. After a wave of ecstasy, he thanked him solemnly.

As the Xu Family’s situation steadily improved, its upper echelons seemed to have broadened their perspective. They were no longer so stingy with their secret techniques. Instead, they had opened access to the Middle Grade Alchemy Secret Transmission to all the Lower Grade Alchemists in the clan who could produce Masterpiece Pills.

There was no longer any need for competitions or tests.

Thus, Lü Bailian had also been able to obtain it.

However, he had gotten stuck midway, which was why he had thought to seek guidance.

After another round of heartfelt, emotional thanks, Lü Bailian finally took his leave, bringing along his Alchemy Apprentice who had been waiting in the distance.

As Lin Changheng watched them go with a smile, he suddenly froze. The apprentice had met his gaze for a moment, and his eyes held a complex mix of emotions: envy, jealousy, and even a hint of sinister gloom...

When the apprentice saw Lin Changheng’s gaze sweep over, he immediately looked away, hurriedly bowing his head and walking off.

Lin Changheng was quite familiar with this person.

His name was Xu Hanzhou.

They had once been fellow apprentices under Ink Master in the Purple River District, working together for eleven years. Later, Xu Hanzhou’s transfer had given Lin Changheng the opportunity to handle Wasted Pills.

And thus began his meteoric rise.

Now, he had become a Middle Grade Alchemist, while the other was still just an Alchemy Apprentice.

Such was the cruel irony of fate.

They had held the same status and assignments, and back then, Lin Changheng couldn’t even compare to the "well-connected" Xu Hanzhou. Xu Hanzhou had actively sought a transfer because he was unwilling to stay in the declining Purple River District any longer—a move orchestrated by his family’s influence.

Who could have imagined that they would end up on such vastly different life paths?

Xu Hanzhou didn’t know about Lin Changheng’s "cheats." At first, he attributed the huge disparity to his own poor choices or missed opportunities.

But later, after years of being unable to even reach the Entry Tier of the Alchemy Dao—three or four years was one thing, but nearly a decade had passed—he grew obsessed. His mindset became twisted, and he began to blame Lin Changheng for stealing his opportunities. He also grew dissatisfied with the clan and came to resent them as well. ’Why would they let an outsider rise above a clan member? How unfair!’

It was a good thing Lin Changheng didn’t know what Xu Hanzhou was thinking. If he had, he would have definitely found an opportunity to hit him in the back with a Fire Bomb Skill and send him to the afterlife.

While he certainly practiced the philosophy of being kind to others, he was incapable of showing even a sliver of mercy to potential threats.