He mentally connected to the Primordial Cauldron, causing the azure glow at the Tripod Mouth to dissipate. Inside, a golden Treasure Seed and a Red Treasure Seed were bobbing up and down.
[Origin Treasure Seed·First Layer]
[Spirit Stealing: 9/100]
…
[Fire Crow Treasure Seed·First Layer]
[Spirit Stealing: 6/100]
…
'Six months have passed, and the Origin Treasure Seed has only gathered nine points of Spirit Stealing. It's dreadfully slow, but compared to the nearly thirty years it took just to accumulate a First Layer Treasure Seed, this is already worlds faster!'
'Is it perhaps because my Cultivation has advanced to the Third Layer of Qi Cultivation? The stronger one's Cultivation, the richer their Essence Blood, and the faster the Spirit Stealing?'
Lin Changheng gazed at the golden Treasure Seed, making a private calculation.
At this rate, he could achieve Spirit Stealing Success in five years and obtain a Second Layer Origin Treasure Seed.
If his Cultivation were to increase further, he could shorten this timeframe even more.
'But with my Mixed Spirit Root, it'll probably take me five years just to grind down the bottleneck and break through to Middle Stage Qi Cultivation. Once my Spirit Root improves by another sliver and becomes a Lower Grade Spirit Root, not only will the bottleneck loosen, but the time needed to accumulate Magical Power and break through will also shorten. A timeframe of around four years would be reasonable.'
Generally speaking, the Cultivation Realm considers sixty years of age to be the limit for achieving Foundation Establishment.
A mortal's energy and physical strength begin to decline after the age of forty.
Cultivators have longer lifespans, but they are not eternally youthful. After the age of sixty, they face a host of problems, such as the depletion of their Qi and Blood, the loss of their vital essence, and the decay of their physical bodies.
Before the age of sixty, barring any injuries, a Cultivator's appearance and physical condition won't change significantly.
But after sixty, they will slowly begin to age.
Their skin will slacken, their hair will turn white, and their backs will begin to stoop…
For those with a Mixed Spirit Root like Lin Changheng, the question isn't whether they can achieve Foundation Establishment, but whether they can even break through to the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation.
They can easily spend their entire lives stuck before the bottleneck of the Middle Stage of Qi Cultivation—trapped for a lifetime.
This is the fate of many low-level Loose Cultivators and clan Cultivators.
That is why, at the Spirit Testing Conference back then, the major Sects and Noble Families looked down on the "Mixed Spirit Root," the Foundation Establishment Clans remained indifferent, and only the Qi Cultivation Clans extended an olive branch.
This is the crucial reason why.
It's not that someone with a Mixed Spirit Root can't break through to Foundation Establishment. They can—it's just that the odds are appallingly low.
In the Cultivation Realm, aside from the two universally acknowledged and immutable "Laws of the Spirit Root," anything can happen. Miracles are not unheard of!
The Sects and Noble Families are not fools; they can tell the difference between panning for gold in a river of gold and panning for gold in a river of sand!
The effort and resources required are not proportional to the potential return. It's simply not worth it!
So they established a rule to simply not get involved.
…
'For the foreseeable future, I have to focus on cultivating the Fire Crow Treasure Seed or other new Treasure Seeds.'
'The Origin Treasure Seed requires time to mature, but other Treasure Seeds don't. As soon as I acquire them, they provide an immediate boost, and my Spirit Root benefits as well.'
'Oh, right. There's also Alchemy…'
At this thought, a glint appeared in Lin Changheng's eyes.
In the six months since his awakening, he hadn't attempted Alchemy again. The Materials provided by the Xu Family were still stored at the shop, untouched. It was time to give it a try.
Six chances!
Besides, tomorrow was Ink Master's day off. The Alchemy Room would be empty and conveniently available.
…
「The next day.」
Lin Changheng slept in until the sun was high in the sky.
Feeling refreshed and in high spirits, he strode into the Xu Family's Alchemy Shop.
"Brother Lin, good morning!"
A young mortal girl from the Xu Family, one without a Spirit Root, was sweeping. Her cheeks were rosy, and she greeted Lin Changheng sweetly when she saw him.
"Morning."
Lin Changheng, always amiable, nodded and smiled in return before asking, "Is the Shopkeeper around?"
"He's in the storeroom."
Xu Ruolan pointed to a door behind the counter.
"Thank you."
Without a second glance at Xu Ruolan's joyous expression, Lin Changheng went to wait directly outside the storeroom door.
In the Xu Family's Alchemy Shop, the Ink Master was the head alchemist, overseeing all Alchemy affairs. The Shopkeeper, in turn, managed the supply of Medicinal Materials and the sale of finished Pills.
In terms of status, the Ink Master's word was law. Even if the Shopkeeper had objections, he had to nod and comply.
"Well now, Changheng! Are you waiting for this old man?"
Xu Qianyou finished taking inventory of the Medicinal Materials. As he locked the door and turned, he saw Lin Changheng looking at him with a wide smile and immediately asked his question.
"I am indeed!"
"Shopkeeper, since today is Ink Master's day off and I've had some new insights into the art of Alchemy, I came to get some materials to give it a try. I hope it's not too much trouble!"
Lin Changheng deliberately put on an eager, expectant expression.
"That's the spirit! Changheng, you're only thirty. You have a long life ahead of you and plenty of time. Why spend your days moping around, shrouded in gloom?"
"Worst case scenario, even if Alchemy doesn't work out, it's not the end of the world. Just practice your Magic diligently like the disciples of my Xu Family. When you retire from your 'pioneering' duties, this old man will even ask the clan to find you a beautiful wife and arrange a marriage. Life wouldn't be so bad then… wouldn't you agree?"
Xu Qianyou had been the Shopkeeper of the Xu Family's shop in Purple River District for nearly twenty years. He had known Lin Changheng for ten of them and had counseled him many times.
Seeing him finally come around was a great relief to the old man.
"Thank you, Shopkeeper."
Lin Changheng nodded again and again in deep agreement. "But it's not over till it's over," he continued. "Until the very end, we Cultivators must not give up so easily!"
"If this junior truly has no fate with the Alchemy Dao, then I'll have to shamelessly rely on you to find me a wife—the clingy kind you can't get rid of. When that time comes, Shopkeeper, don't you get tired of me…"
Hearing this, Xu Qianyou stroked his beard, shaking his head with a helpless laugh. "Oh, you!"
He then returned to business. "You still have the opportunity to refine six sets of Materials. How many do you plan on using this time?"
"Six sets!"
Lin Changheng looked the Shopkeeper straight in the eye, his voice firm and resolute.
"Six sets?" Xu Qianyou faltered, asking for confirmation.
"Six sets! Please fetch six sets of Materials for me."
"Alright! Wait here."
Xu Qianyou studied him for a few moments, seemingly moved by his determination and spirit, then turned to retrieve the items.
He solemnly placed the six sets of Materials for refining the Red Flame Pill into Lin Changheng's hands. Seeing him turn resolutely toward the Alchemy Room in the back courtyard, Xu Qianyou's lips moved, but in the end, he said nothing, only letting out a deep sigh.
The wheels of time turn, and the world changes. The single word 'Talent'—how many soaring ambitions has it crushed? How many have studied until their hair turned white, all for naught?
'It's a pity Changheng's ten years of hard work were spent on the wrong path.'
'Otherwise…'
'Sigh!'
…
Lin Changheng, unaware of the Shopkeeper's thoughts, had already lit the fire in the furnace.
The leaping Flame in the furnace flickered across his face. His eyes were closed, his expression serene, showing neither joy nor sorrow as he remained perfectly still.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes.
He had just mentally simulated the entire process of refining the Red Flame Pill one more time, down to the smallest detail.
The Burning Furnace step was complete.
Lin Changheng tossed in the Spirit Medicines one by one. He formed the "Purification" Pill Formula hand seal, using his Magical Power to continuously flush the herbs. This was the "washing" step.
At the same time, he used the Fire Control Technique to make tongues of flame lap at the bottom of the Medicinal Materials. This was the "refining" step.
After more than thirty Pill Formulas, a full hour had passed.
The Medicinal Properties of the Spirit Medicines in the furnace were now incomparably pure, and they exuded a delicate, fragrant aroma under the firelight.
Next came Liquid Transformation, Medicine Combination, and Hidden Refining…