Later on, news of Xu Xujun’s Foundation Establishment was no longer a top secret. Instead, it became a legendary tale circulated within the family to boost morale.

Lin Changheng also learned that in addition to the Foundation Establishment Pill from the Upper Sect, Xu Xujun had indeed used a certain Foundation Establishment Spiritual Object.

However, its origins and specific details were not disclosed.

’Lin Changheng, however, suspected it had most likely come from the auction in the Ruins District, and that Xu Hanji had brought it back.’

But as for the actual truth, there was no confirmation.

However, the reward given by the family greatly exceeded Lin Changheng’s expectations.

It was incredibly generous!

Far more than what one would expect for merely driving off a Qi Cultivation Seventh Layer Tribulation Cultivator and saving a few family members.

It was a Pill Furnace.

An Upper Grade Pill Furnace!

Although it was an old item from their stores, looking dull and unremarkable, it wasn’t severely damaged.

Any minor damage had already been repaired by an Artifact Refining Master from outside the family; it had even been polished a little before being bestowed.

This gesture truly demonstrated the Xu Family’s sincerity and consideration!

In terms of value—

Despite its condition, the furnace was no cheaper than a brand-new, genuine Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact.

That meant he had just received a prize worth at least seven or eight hundred Spirit Stones!

When the Xu Family bestowed the furnace, Xu Hanji delivered it personally and also passed along a message.

The gist of it was that the furnace was not just a commendation for Alchemist Lin’s past achievements and an affirmation of his contributions, but also a token of their hope that his Alchemy Dao would advance by leaps and bounds, allowing him to break through to the Upper Grade rank soon.

Lin Changheng accepted with a smile.

He took the miniature furnace from Xu Hanji’s hands. It was small enough to rest in a single palm.

"A Pill Furnace on par with an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact, just as expected."

Lin Changheng tested it out right then and there, clicking his tongue in amazement.

A furnace that was an Upper Grade Spiritual Artifact was entirely different from the ordinary Spiritual Artifact-grade Pill Furnaces in the Alchemy Room, which often stood as tall as two men.

The latter couldn’t be shrunk and were nearly immobile. Their three legs and two handles were even fixed with iron chains to prevent any movement that might misalign the [Earth Fire Array] and disrupt the Alchemy process.

The former, however, was vastly different. It could be carried around and put away at will. Aside from needing a separate source of Earth Fire or other Exotic Fires for Alchemy, it was unbelievably convenient.

...

The third major event was the official opening of the Juechen Valley Marketplace in the Wilderness.

However, the character "Jue" in Juechen, meaning "to sever," was considered inauspicious. Furthermore, the valley was rich in [Cyan Spirit Wormwood]—the very Spirit Grass that led the Xu Family to discover it.

Thus, taking the "Cyan Spirit" part of the name,

it was renamed the [Cyan Spirit District].

Although the Liu Family’s business practices were fair and not overbearing, with the two families now co-existing, a natural shift in influence and authority began to occur.

This trend was only curbed after the Xu Family produced a Foundation Establishment cultivator.

Although the district was still in its infancy, the early signs of prosperity were already visible.

Moreover, with the "small-scale pioneering" effort underway, even the scraps and leftovers that trickled down after the Upper Sects and Noble Families took their share of frontline resources injected considerable vitality into this New District.

Notably, the Sun Family, a Beast Taming Family, also expressed interest in acquiring a shop in the district to open a business.

Upon learning this, the Xu and Liu Families responded with enthusiasm, offering significantly favorable terms.

Even though the Liu Family was also a Beast Taming Clan and would inevitably compete with the Beast Taming Sun Family, they still extended a warm welcome.

This was because they were now operating on a different level.

As Masters of the Market, they couldn’t get bogged down in trivialities and naturally had to consider the bigger picture.

After a protracted negotiation lasting half a year, the Sun Family finally confirmed their move into the district.

... 𝐟𝗿𝐞𝚎𝚠𝐞𝚋𝕟𝐨𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝕔𝕠𝚖

「Lin Changheng’s courtyard, Guanxia Daoist School.」

Lin Changheng sat cross-legged, his gaze filled with fervor as he looked at the Essence Blood of Mountain and Marsh Spirits before him. The Xu Family caravan had just acquired it from the Liu Family.

This was also the last batch delivered by the Liu Family!

He was now past forty-five and had been middle-aged for nearly a decade. Yet, his face showed no signs of aging, not even the beginnings of wrinkles. Instead, he seemed to be growing younger, regressing from middle age back toward his youth.

To an unfamiliar eye, his appearance was that of a man no older than thirty-five.

It wasn’t that the march of time had halted for him. Rather, the [Longevit] Talent, acquired via Spirit Stealing from the Essence Blood of the [Lantern Grass Essence], was working its wonders.

Over the years, his [Lantern Grass Treasure Seed] had reached the Fourth Layer of Spirit Stealing, unlike his [Wood Puppet Fox] seed, which had peaked at the Third Layer.

And he had obtained [Longevity Celestial Gift: Ascension]!

’That’s right, not "Longevity Strange Skill," but "Celestial Gift of Longevity."

’Just like the description for the [Origin Treasure Seed], it used the term "Celestial Gift."

’Over the years, I’ve slowly come to understand the core distinction between "Abnormal Technique" and "Celestial Gift": one is an Active ability, while the other is Passive.

’The former is an "adaptation" of a Demon Beast’s Talent, thus it’s called an "Abnormal Technique."

’The latter is a "direct inheritance" of the Demon Beast’s Talent, or perhaps "requires no adaptation," and is thus called a "Celestial Gift."

’Just like the Origin Treasure Seed—it originated from the Human Race and therefore required no "adaptation," making it a "Celestial Gift"!

’Clearly, the Utility of my current [Celestial Gift of Longevity] is also a direct inheritance.’

Now, with enough of the required Essence Blood, reaching the Fifth Layer of Spirit Stealing was within his grasp!

Lin Changheng dipped his hand into the Essence Blood. The Primordial Cauldron in his Sea of Consciousness hummed and trembled.

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

A mottled green Treasure Seed formed at a speed visible to the naked eye.

[Lantern Grass Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Can continue to Refine into Demon Race Lifebound Talent: Longevit]

Without a second thought, he chose to Refine it. As the Treasure Seed was absorbed, a sensation akin to dense Life Force bloomed in his chest and coursed through his entire body, heralding some profound, mystical change.

[Longevity Heaven-Gifted·Transformation]

[Utility: Continuously slows the decay of Qi and Blood; Lifespan increased by another five years.]

After a moment of sensing the change, Lin Changheng found that the state of his Qi and Blood had only declined by an amount equivalent to a single year of aging. It had barely regressed at all, remaining at his middle-aged peak with no signs of going downhill.

But his Lifespan had instead increased by another five years.

Reaching one hundred and forty-three years!

This surpassed the theoretical maximum lifespan of a Qi Cultivation Cultivator—one hundred and thirty years—by a full thirteen years.

Lin Changheng was quite satisfied with this result.

After all, it wasn’t as if lifespan-extending Treasures or Elixirs didn’t exist in the Cultivation Realm. However, such items were either held by Core Formation or Nascent Soul Cultivators, or they would trigger a bloody, desperate struggle among various factions and aging cultivators the moment they appeared.

Yet Lin Changheng had obtained a full twenty-five years of additional Lifespan with relative ease, with the possibility of gaining even more in the future.

How could he not be satisfied?

But it wasn’t over. The potential of the [Lantern Grass Treasure Seed] was clearly not yet exhausted; the possibility of Metamorphosis remained.

Fortunately, he had shamelessly acquired some extra [Lantern Grass Essence] Essence Blood from the Liu Family beyond what was agreed upon, allowing him to continue.

[Lantern Grass Treasure Seed·Fifth Layer]

[Spirit Stealing: 100/100]

[Metamorphosis: 0/10]

[Utility: A type of Mountain and Marsh Spirit. Transforms the Muddy Evil Bloodline. Innately Wood Attribute. With Perfect Spirit Stealing and Life Nurturing Dao through Metamorphosis, it can be used to Refine into the bloodline’s Celestial Gift Divine Ability: the True Intent of "Rong Sheng".]

"Divine Abilities!"

"Finally, I see Divine Abilities again!"

’I’m already well-versed in this process.’ He ignored the preceding text, his eyes locking onto the final phrases: [bloodline Celestial Gift Divine Ability] and [True Intent of "Rong Sheng"].

He was instantly overcome with surprise and delight!