Chapter 65: Can’t Hold Back Anymore
What?
Long Xuan was stunned.
He was a Nascent Soul cultivator, a renowned figure in the entire Starry Sea, and now his own son was saying he couldn't withstand a single sword strike from someone else?
"Have you lost your mind?"
Long Xuan frowned. "Your father is a well-known expert in the Starry Sea. How could I not withstand a single sword strike?"
"Ah!"
Long Haotian sighed. "That senior took us in and out of the Devil's Sea. Even a Nascent Soul sea beast couldn't withstand a single strike from him. Do you really think you're more resilient than a Nascent Soul sea beast?"
What?
Long Xuan's heart skipped a beat.
Sea beasts inherently had stronger physical bodies and vitality than humans. If even a Nascent Soul sea beast couldn't withstand a single strike from that person, just how powerful was he?
He believed that even his troublemaking son wouldn't deceive him about something like this.
"Tell me honestly, what is that person's background?"
Long Xuan asked in a low voice.
"Ahem."
Long Haotian also dropped his playful demeanor and whispered, "I'm not entirely sure about this senior's identity, but he's incredibly powerful and also a formidable alchemist. We must not offend him."
"Senior Li wants Mystic Pearl Grass and Biyuan Fruit, which are in the hands of the Zhang and Liu families. I've already promised him, so you'll need to help me get it."
After a moment of contemplation, Long Xuan nodded.
"Alright, leave it to me."
Although Mystic Pearl Grass and Biyuan Fruit were precious, if it could earn the friendship of a high-tier alchemist, it would still be a worthwhile trade.
"Take me to meet this senior you've been talking about."
…
Long Xuan followed Long Haotian onto the ship and saw a young man in green robes standing on the deck. His demeanor was extraordinary, as if he were an immortal.
What surprised Long Xuan the most was that he couldn't see through the young man's cultivation level.
"Friend," Long Xuan cupped his hands slightly toward Li Changsheng.
He had initially thought his son was exaggerating, but now he was certain that the person before him was at least a Nascent Soul cultivator, possibly even stronger than himself.
"Friend," Li Changsheng nodded slightly.
"Friend, could we speak privately?"
Long Xuan asked in a low voice.
"Sure."
The two walked toward the cabin. Long Haotian wanted to follow, but a stern look from Long Xuan made him stay behind on the deck with an awkward smile.
…
Inside the cabin.
Li Changsheng and Long Xuan sat facing each other.
Long Xuan looked at Li Changsheng and asked directly, "Friend, are you seeking Mystic Pearl Grass and Biyuan Fruit to refine Marrow Cleansing Pills?"
"Correct," Li Changsheng nodded.
As a top-tier force in the Tiannan Region, it was normal for the Long family to possess the Marrow Cleansing Pill's recipe.
Long Xuan's eyes lit up, and he cupped his hands toward Li Changsheng.
"Friend, I'll procure the Mystic Pearl Grass and Biyuan Fruit for you. I'll also gather another set of materials for refining the Marrow Cleansing Pill. I'd like to trouble you to refine a batch for me."
"Please name your price."
Li Changsheng was slightly surprised. He hadn't expected Long Xuan to ask him to refine a batch of Marrow Cleansing Pills.
Although he was now a mid-tier fifth-grade alchemist, the Marrow Cleansing Pill was among the more challenging fifth-grade pills, and he couldn't guarantee a 100% success rate.
"Friend, if the refinement is successful, regardless of how many pills are produced, I only need one," Long Xuan sighed. "You know my son's talent isn't the best…"
"Agreed," Li Changsheng nodded.
Long Haotian's talent was merely a three-element spiritual root, and even among those, it was on the weaker side. As a father, it was natural for Long Xuan to want to secure a pill that could improve his son's talent.
Moreover, with some luck, one set of materials could yield up to three pills.
"I have some materials here that I'd like you to help me handle," Li Changsheng said as he handed a prepared storage pouch to Long Xuan.
Inside the pouch were some materials he no longer needed, along with those obtained from the sea beasts he had slain in the Devil's Sea, worth roughly several million spirit stones.
This was also a good opportunity to push his alchemy skills to the peak of the fifth tier, increasing the chances of yielding more pills from the two sets of materials.
After their discussion in the cabin, Long Xuan left with Li Changsheng's storage pouch. Long Haotian and Zheng Xuanyue also accompanied him.
Li Changsheng, meanwhile, took Ximen Xue and her brother to settle down on Giant Whale Island and dismissed Xie Zhicheng and the others.
…
At the heart of the Diamond Sect's secret realm, near the spirit spring.
A young man dressed in luxurious robes sat by the spring, holding a high-grade spirit tool fishing rod.
His aura was as deep and unfathomable as the ocean, and the faint blue spiritual mark between his brows added to his extraordinary presence.
Elder Su stood respectfully beside him and said softly,
"Young Master, there seems to be something unusual about that boy I found to act as your substitute."
"According to reports from outside, he was able to slay a Nascent Soul sea beast with a single sword strike in the Devil's Sea. His cultivation must have already reached the late Nascent Soul stage."
The young man's expression remained unchanged as he said calmly,
"To reach the Nascent Soul stage in such a short time is indeed unusual, but it's still within manageable limits."
"Moreover, the stronger he is, the easier it will be for the outside world, especially the Medicine King Sect, to believe that he is the Diamond Sect's Holy Son."
"This will allow me to leave this wretched place under a different identity and venture into a greater world."
"But given his rapid growth, the secrets he possesses must be significant. If we could seize them, Young Master, you would surely be able to restore the Diamond Sect's former glory!" Elder Su whispered.
The young man put down his fishing rod and said indifferently,
"Then wait until he reaches the Divine Transformation stage. I'll personally go and take his opportunities. Afterward, you can step in to save him. A Divine Transformation cultivator who practices both the Star Sword Art and the Divine Demon Nine Transformations should be enough to attract their attention!"
…
Five days later.
At the Long family's estate on Giant Whale Island.
After seeing Long Xuan off, Li Changsheng took out the two storage pouches Long Xuan had given him.
One pouch contained 6.1 million spirit stones. 5.1 million came from selling the materials, and the remaining million was Long Xuan's payment for refining the Marrow Cleansing Pill.
The other pouch contained the materials needed to refine the Marrow Cleansing Pill, along with an extra Mystic Pearl Grass and Biyuan Fruit that Long Xuan had obtained from the Zhang and Liu families.
"It's great having connections!"
Li Changsheng shook his head slightly, a smile appearing on his face.
"First, I'll push my alchemy skills to the peak of the fifth tier, then continue cultivating the Divine Demon Nine Transformations!"
"Recharge!"
[Recharge successful. Current balance: 5.06 million gold.]
[Would you like to use the Immortal Cultivation Simulator? Each use costs 100,000 gold.]
"Use it!"
[Simulation begins!]
[Age 21, you secluded yourself on Giant Whale Island, focusing on alchemy.]
...
[Age 97, the mysterious youth attacked. You withstood seven of his moves before being severely injured.]
[You were captured and interrogated about the secret of your rapid growth. Refusing to comply, you were killed.]
[You died!]