Chapter 269: Body Refinement Stage Two
Several months later.
On Celestial Spring Peak, Lin Changan stood gazing in the direction of the Long Clan, as if sensing something.
“It’s about to start!”
The fluctuations of mana from Core Formation cultivators erupting were more than just one or two.
On Five Dragon Island, some bold speculators looked excitedly toward the Long Clan’s direction.
Meanwhile, some cultivators and clans who only wished for peaceful cultivation were filled with anxiety.
“Master, that’s a battle erupting between Core Formation cultivators from the Long Clan’s side.”
The Sword Attendant was pouring tea beside him, respectfully reporting the recent events.
Lin Changan nodded lightly. Unfortunately, after retrieving his treasures, he had lost all interest in the current turmoil and its potential gains.
“Pay no attention to the outside. Focus on cultivation for now. Wait until things calm down before making any decisions.”
Shaking his head slightly, Lin Changan took a small sip of spirit tea. He glanced at the Sword Attendant a few more times than usual and nodded with satisfaction.
“This second-rank magical robe is truly befitting a Foundation Establishment cultivator.”
Although the robe’s design hadn't changed much, its quality was clearly different from before.
Upon hearing this, the Sword Attendant's cheeks flushed slightly, yet she still lowered her head and replied respectfully, “This is all thanks to Master's grace.”
Lin Changan chuckled and waved his hand. As expected, having a meticulous and thoughtful subordinate made things far easier.
If she were merely average, she could have been assigned to manage the cave abode.
But it was a pity—this girl’s talent was exceptional and destined for greater things. Using her just for the comforts of managing a residence would be an immense waste.
“Sit. Give me your hand. I’m quite interested in your bloodline. From the ancient texts, I’ve found that although the human-beast hybrid bloodline is a shackle, it is also an opportunity.”
His words were no mere exaggeration. Human-beast hybrids, if they could cultivate to the Core Formation or Nascent Soul stage, often awakened unique divine abilities.
They were just exceedingly rare.
Upon hearing this, a flash of light passed through the Sword Attendant’s eyes.
“Thank you, Master!”
In the next moment, she respectfully sat before the stone stool, yet cautiously chose only the edge, ever mindful of her status.
Lin Changan found nothing wrong with this. On the contrary, a glimmer of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
He had tested her disposition on several occasions—by giving her a dual cultivation secret art ahead of time, as well as bestowing favors.
If she had shown arrogance or lost herself in premature pride, he wouldn’t have minded thoroughly taming her and grinding down her disposition to face reality.
But for now, he was very satisfied. Whether in front of him or behind his back, she had never been overbearing.
She extended her fair wrist, and as Lin Changan placed his fingers on it, gentle wood-attribute mana flowed into her, allowing him to observe her internal state.
“This baleful energy is indeed troublesome.”
Lin Changan frowned. Under the Sword Attendant’s perception, as that gentle mana entered her body, her cheeks flushed red.
This flush was from her first time experiencing the inner tremor of mana change, and joy showed in her eyes.
This was different from the time in the Black Market, when Lin Changan had only used a faint wisp of mana—so subtle even she hadn't noticed.
“Master!”
“Speak.”
The Sword Attendant tried her best to suppress her excitement, though her voice still trembled slightly as she said:
“Master, the two conflicting flows of mana within me seem to have calmed down at this moment. I feel like I’ve returned to the state I had when cultivating before my bloodline awakened!”
However, in the next moment, as the gentle mana within her gradually faded, the previously calm two flows began to intertwine again.
Once more, she experienced the feeling of plummeting from a mountaintop.
Just as disappointment rose in her, Lin Changan calmly said, “Operate the dual cultivation secret art and sense it carefully.”
If the shackle of a human-beast hybrid bloodline could be resolved easily, that would already defy what was normal.
If word got out, it would definitely draw attention.
Even though there was a restriction placed in her body, it wasn't enough.
One reason was caution. Another—things gained too easily are often not cherished.
On the other hand, something regained through hardship would be treasured and also temper the will of the individual.
After all, what he needed was a Core Formation Heavenly Spirit Sword Body—not just a subordinate Foundation Establishment cultivator.
As the two of them began to circulate the dual cultivation secret art, a rare glint of surprise flickered in Lin Changan’s eyes.
The other party had completely lowered her defenses, which was why everything had gone so smoothly.
Though, Lin Changan considered—it might also be due to resignation, a giving-up kind of acceptance.
Several hours passed.
In the pavilion, the Sword Attendant was drenched in sweat, yet her cheeks were flushed, and her expression showed joy.
In proper dual cultivation secret arts, the lower a cultivator’s realm, the greater the benefit.
But this top-tier Heavenly Spirit Sword Body— even Lin Changan, a Core Formation cultivator, was secretly astonished.
He could actually feel a slight soothing of the Sword Intent within him. Though the effect was faint—and nearly useless because of his Regenerative Body—it still proved one thing:
The power of a top-tier spiritual body.
After concluding the cultivation, Lin Changan’s expression remained calm as he said:
“Seems this secret art has some use. But you must understand—in the pursuit of the Great Dao, even a hair’s breadth makes a difference.”
Leaving this statement behind in a detached tone, Lin Changan turned and headed toward the cave abode, saying he was going into seclusion.
“Thank you, Master!”
The Sword Attendant’s excited voice sounded behind him. Lin Changan’s lips curled slightly—only then would one truly treasure such a hard-won opportunity to cultivate.
“In the pursuit of the Great Dao, even a hair’s breadth makes a difference!”
In the pavilion, the Sword Attendant softly muttered those words.
At that moment, she understood—this was her opportunity. She mustn’t waste a single moment of cultivation.
While her master’s mana still lingered within her, she could bring out her strongest cultivation potential. Not daring to delay even a moment, she immediately sat cross-legged and began cultivating.
While Lin Changan was in seclusion, Five Dragon Island became bustling with activity.
After the Long Clan revealed a Core Formation phenomenon, it stirred even greater unrest.
Many of the Long Clan’s old enemies seized the opportunity for revenge.
Externally, there was the scheming Mystic Yin Divine Sect and these old enemies of the Long Clan. Internally, Xuanyin Pavilion and two great clans did not wish for the Long Clan to grow any stronger.
On top of that, countless cultivators sought to profit from the chaos.
It could be said that the Long Clan’s century-long dominance and strength, after a single setback, had brought about the greatest backlash.
Even Lin Changan, who had gone into seclusion, received invitation letters one after another—either offering high prices for breaking formations, or for purchasing formation arrays.
Clearly, those seeking to break formations were targeting the Long Clan’s formations, while those buying formations wanted a share of the spoils.
All of them were declined by the Sword Attendant under the excuse of seclusion.
……
Time flew like an arrow—two years passed in the blink of an eye.
Inside the Earthfire cavern, Lin Changan sat cross-legged atop the Fusang Divine Tree, eyes tightly shut.
Around him, strands of black qi purified by the divine tree were slowly absorbed into his body.
“Body Refinement Stage Two!”
As a surge of powerful aura flashed and faded, Lin Changan slowly opened his eyes and exhaled a breath of cyan energy.
“Cultivating under demonic energy really does accelerate progress.”
Body Refinement had always been a slow and steady process like dripping water wearing away stone. Yet with the aid of purified demonic energy, he had finally broken through the bottleneck.
The early stage of Body Refinement Stage Two was equivalent to the early Foundation Establishment stage for body cultivators.
And now—he even had a spiritual root aptitude!
Raising his hand, the spiritual power detection disk hanging from a branch of the Fusang Tree fell into his palm.
Injecting his mana into it, the green spiritual energy climbed steadily—surpassing mid-grade and reaching the upper-grade spiritual root threshold.
Though it had just barely reached the mark for an upper-grade spiritual root, it still proved the effectiveness of demonic energy in cleansing and refining one’s spiritual root.
“I’m no longer that low-grade spiritual root of the past.”
Seeing his aptitude improve, Lin Changan couldn’t hold back a long howl of joy, startling the Wind-Chirp Bird to open its eyes.
It stared at its master in bewilderment—what had made him act so strangely all of a sudden?
Perhaps, at this moment, no one could understand his mood—except the Sword Attendant.
After all, their experiences were very much alike—one had been a martial genius in the mortal world, the other a prodigy at the beginning of her cultivation journey.
One had fallen into the abyss during the spiritual root test, the other had their human-beast hybrid bloodline awaken after breaking through to Foundation Establishment, plunging into the dust.
The bitterness in this—only they themselves knew.
“Top-grade spiritual root!”
At this moment, Lin Changan’s expression was complicated, as scenes from the past replayed in his mind.
The last time he took a Spirit-Mending Pill, he had tested himself—his spiritual root aptitude had been just a thread short of top-grade.
A miss by a hair, a loss by a thousand miles.
Even the slightest gap still counted as a mid-grade spiritual root.
But it was precisely because of this that he could, within two years, use purified demonic energy to wash and elevate his root to top-grade.
“I’m merely a newly formed Core Formation cultivator—far from the time to get carried away.”
After the initial excitement, Lin Changan calmed down, reminding himself repeatedly not to become overly proud.
This purified demonic energy indeed had the effect of cleansing spiritual root aptitude—but the process was slow.
Though he had seen results in just two years, that was only because he had been a hair’s breadth away from top-grade to begin with—making the effect appear fast.
From his two years of cultivation experience, if one wanted to use this purified demonic energy to elevate their root to Earth-grade, it would likely take no less than a century.
【Lifespan: 151//600】
【Realm: Early Core Formation (8/100)】
Staring at his remaining lifespan, Lin Changan’s expression grew solemn.
“One hundred and fifty-one years old… It’s time to prepare for Core Reforging.”
When reforging the core, the transformation into liquid would cause a temporary drop in cultivation, and the lifespan would no longer be the current six hundred years.
Therefore, the Core Reforging Secret Technique must be performed at the body’s peak condition.
“Because I cultivate wood-attribute techniques, my lifespan is longer than average cultivators. But it’s best to complete the Core Reforging before the age of two hundred. Otherwise, the older one gets, the higher the risk of failure.”
Lin Changan’s eyes flickered with thoughts. This defiance-of-heaven secret technique—rebuilding one’s core after its dissolution—was greatly taxing on one’s vitality and full of restrictions.
If it weren’t, the cultivation world wouldn’t have so many Core Formation cultivators treating the technique like a venomous scorpion.
Only those false Core cultivators whose paths were utterly blocked would dare gamble on it.
“And another factor affecting Core Reforging is spiritual root aptitude. But with my current top-grade root, I’ve met the requirement.”
Lin Changan’s gaze grew deep as he pondered in silence.
Improving one’s spiritual root aptitude also increased the chances of success in Core Reforging.
Just like forming the core in the first place—the better the root, the higher the chance of a quality core.
“A top-grade root qualifies me to attempt forming an Immortal Golden Core—but that’s a task of immense difficulty. Best to take things one step at a time.”
Now that he carried immense fortune and opportunities, he would not foolishly gamble.
Golden Core quality primarily represented potential, more refined mana, and a slightly better chance at reaching Nascent Soul.
It was by no means a guarantee.
Even Heavenly Spirit Roots only ensured fast and bottleneck-free progress to Core Formation—but not necessarily reaching the Nascent Soul stage.
After all, the final hurdle in forming the Nascent Soul—the “Heart Demon Tribulation”—ignored both aptitude and mana.
As for Core Reforging…
Lin Changan already had a rough plan in mind.
The most important parts—stabilizing and reshaping the core formation spirit items—he already possessed.
What remained was to prepare another one or two such spirit items.
After all, these things increased the chance of success—and if he had the ability, he would ensure everything was foolproof.
Thinking of this, Lin Changan couldn’t help but sigh helplessly.
“In the Qi Refining stage, I worried about spirit stone resources. After Foundation Establishment, I still worried. I thought things would ease after forming the core—but I now need even more.”
Lin Changan shook his head.
Fortunately, he was now a Core Formation cultivator. With his current strength, acquiring core formation spirit items was far easier than during Foundation Establishment.
Not to mention he also had a clone of a third-rank alchemist, which had amassed a good amount of spirit herbs over the years.
“And it’s not just me—there’s also the Azure-Horned Ox!”
At this thought, Lin Changan frowned inwardly. It seemed he would have to return to his old line of work.
Over the past few years, the Azure-Horned Ox’s bloodline had mutated—it would likely reach third rank within these years.
……
“Congratulations on Master’s cultivation advancement.”
Upon walking out of the cave abode, Lin Changan was greeted by the Sword Attendant’s cool voice.
Lin Changan couldn’t help but feel very satisfied. No wonder even immortals couldn’t escape common customs—everyone liked to hear pleasant words.
From peddlers and emperors in the mortal world to cultivators who could shift mountains and overturn seas.
“Anything major happened recently?”
“Reporting to Master—half a year ago, the Long Clan had two newly advanced Core Formation cultivators. But three veteran Core Formation cultivators fell, and among the false Core cultivators…”
“It’s said that the Island Lord of the Long Clan is nearing the end of his lifespan. Currently, the Long Clan’s power is greatly diminished. Even their marketplace business is being openly snatched…”
Listening to the Long Clan’s current predicament, Lin Changan merely nodded lightly. Since it didn’t concern him, he was indifferent.
Still, thinking back to when he first arrived in the sea region of Five Dragon Island, the Long Clan had been dominant—and now, just a few decades later…
Truly, the world was unpredictable.
“Even the Long Clan’s merchant fleet has been raided by cultivator robbers outside, and squeezed internally…”
The Sword Attendant spoke calmly, clearly showing little interest in the outside turmoil—which was precisely what Lin Changan appreciated most.
“Seems the Long Clan’s decline is already sealed.”
Lin Changan shook his head with detached indifference. From this intel, it was clear to him.
Those openly vying with the Long Clan in business were merely the front. The real force was the collusion of the major powers.
After all, with the Long Clan now too weak to hold those resources, it naturally attracted others' greed.
“Master, it’s said that Bihai Palace was alarmed by this incident, causing the Mystic Yin Divine Sect’s cultivators to withdraw. However, in the Fog Sea of Tongtian, the Long Clan’s business still suffered heavy losses—
especially at the hands of the Palace of Blazing Fire…”
Hearing this, Lin Changan chuckled and shook his head. Everyone knew the Palace of Blazing Fire was a dog of the Mystic Yin Divine Sect—but they hadn’t admitted it openly.
So no one could do anything about it.
“Yet the Mystic Yin Divine Sect is still keeping their eyes on the Long Clan.”
At that thought, Lin Changan didn’t feel the slightest guilt—only a sense of ease.
This was all debt the Long Clan owed him. Now, he had decided to write it off entirely.
“This was delivered three days ago—a request from the Long Clan. They want you to repair their formation and are willing to offer a grand reward.”
As the Sword Attendant handed over the invitation letter, Lin Changan was initially dismissive—until he saw the compensation offered.
A rare look of surprise appeared on his face.
The Long Clan had made a generous offer. Clearly, they knew they could no longer hold onto some resources—so they offered them in exchange for stability.