Eternal Life: Talent Grows with Age

"He wouldn’t say a word, so after thinking it over, I figured I’d let it go."

Zhong Mountain shook his head and said.

"Is the Perfect Pill really that beneficial for the Little Fire Cloud Beast?"

At that moment, Lu Chang’sheng asked.

"I wouldn’t call it a huge benefit, but it does offer some innate advantages to its growth."

"Anyone who can refine a Perfect Pill must be seriously skilled in alchemy."

"Alchemist Lu, if you give it a shot, you might just be able to pull it off too."

Zhong Mountain turned and said.

Right now, there aren’t many grade-two alchemists in the Good Beast Sect—barely a handful—which puts them a fair way behind the Supreme Profound Sect. And with the Alchemy Institute Dean about to reach the end of his life, it’s safe to say there’s a real talent drought in the Alchemy Dao.

No wonder Gu Yuan was so interested in him back then.

Alchemy skill is basically what keeps an Immortal Sect thriving. With the Alchemy Institute Dean Huang Yun nearly passing away, of course they’re anxious.

"As far as I know, even Huang Yun couldn’t refine a Perfect Pill."

Not every grade-two alchemist can make a Perfect Pill—you have to build up tons of experience as a grade-one alchemist, or else have truly outstanding talent.

"You speak the truth, Zhong Mountain."

Lu Chang’sheng had lost all interest, turned, and walked out.

"Looks like that kid He Feng is gonna snatch all the benefits this time," Zhong Mountain sighed.

Lu Chang’sheng looked over to where He Feng was, and after the stewards and elders had all failed, he finally stood up and walked over to the Little Fire Cloud Beast.

"Much as I hate to admit it, among all of us, He Feng really is the most likely to win the Little Fire Cloud Beast over."

One elder said, then got up and walked out.

But, shockingly for everyone, He Feng actually failed too.

"Heh, looks like we’re right back where we started!" Zhong Mountain snickered, unable to hide his grin.

Lu Chang’sheng hadn’t expected things to turn out this way either. In the Good Beast Sect, situations like this were pretty rare.

After talking it over, everyone concluded the Little Fire Cloud Beast was just too damn smart.

"I think I’ve figured it out. This Little Fire Spirit Beast probably has other ideas."

Zhong Mountain said.

"I think so too. We need to get Huang Ling over here," He Qing said heavily.

Zhong Mountain chuckled, "Why didn’t you ask for Huang Ling before He Feng failed?"

He Qing, pissed off, glared at Zhong Mountain.

Soon, Huang Ling from the next hall hurried over. The moment he saw the Little Fire Cloud Beast, his eyes lit right up.

After a rather complicated exchange, Huang Ling looked up at everyone with a weird expression and said, "Everyone, it told me you’re all just not quite enough."

The group was stunned by the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s intelligence. For other Fire Cloud Beasts, fresh out of the egg, there’s no way they could communicate with Huang Ling at all—which is exactly why Huang Ling hadn’t joined in before.

But this Fire Spirit Beast totally caught everyone off guard.

When everyone heard that, their expressions grew complicated, but their fondness for the Little Fire Cloud Beast clearly deepened.

"I’m not giving up," Zhong Mountain said to Lu Chang’sheng before leaving.

Lu Chang’sheng was curious. "Don’t tell me you plan to keep wasting time on this Little Fire Cloud Beast?"

"It’s not a waste, not at all! This Fire Cloud Beast and my fire magic would totally reinforce each other. My power would see a huge leap! Besides, people change, beasts change. Give it time and the Little Fire Cloud Beast will see how great I am—when it does, it’ll definitely throw itself right into my arms!"

Zhong Mountain wiped the drool from his mouth and turned to leave.

He said he’d make some cash and buy the Little Fire Cloud Beast even more Perfect Pills—there was no way it wouldn’t fall for him.

Even as he left, he kept muttering about how the exploration at Purple Ice Lake was a waste of effort.

The other friends also left, one after another.

Unable to let go of the Little Fire Cloud Beast.

Lu Chang’sheng felt the same. His original plan was, if he couldn’t win over this Little Fire Cloud Beast here, he’d just wait for the next one, or else head over to the grade-B Beast Institute and pick one out.

But thinking back to what he’d just witnessed—the way the Little Fire Cloud Beast manipulated flames—he couldn’t help but feel tempted.

"Ordinary Little Fire Cloud Beasts don’t have that kind of flame control at this age."

If he could form a bond with the spirit beast and get its help in alchemy, he could get twice the results for half the effort and save himself a ton of time.

······

Over the next few days, Lu Chang’sheng stayed at home refining pills.

While waiting for the higher-ups to come to a decision, he also got word from Purple Ice Lake. Earlier today, someone finally found the entrance to the Profound Turtle Alchemist’s ruins—but the doorway had a large formation sealing it, and entering would be tough.

At least, that’s how Lu Chang’sheng saw it.

Now they’d just located the entrance and confirmed there was a big formation there, but they knew nothing else. Still, it was enough to get the explorers seriously pumped up.

Twenty years of searching; if they hadn’t been training as they looked, there’s no way they would’ve kept at it that long.

"Let’s hope it’s not a fake ruin," Zhong Mountain said to Lu Chang’sheng.

He’d been extremely fired up these days, borrowing all kinds of good stuff from folks and heading to the Beast Institute every day to feed the Little Fire Cloud Beast. Unless it was an unhatched egg, as long as the rules were met, he could get close.

After all, newly hatched Little Fire Cloud Beasts need resources to grow too.

Fire Cloud Beast Ning Yun doesn’t ever turn down that sort of thing.

"You coming over to the Beast Institute later?" Zhong Mountain asked after a while.

He was just making conversation—never dreamed Lu Chang’sheng would actually say yes.

He’d kept coming to ask Lu Chang’sheng these last few days, but the guy never went—Zhong Mountain was sure Lu Chang’sheng had given up.

Didn’t expect this result.

"Sure!"

Lu Chang’sheng patted his Treasure Vault Immortal Insect, which held a few fire-type Perfect Pills he’d refined. He already had a plan—to try it out in a bit.

If it worked, great; if not, he could move on.

A mid-stage Foundation Establishment beast a hundred years old would help, but wasn’t a necessity.

"You’re actually going?" Zhong Mountain’s eyes narrowed—one more rival.

Heading to the Beast Institute, Lu Chang’sheng asked how much Zhong Mountain had invested so far.

Zhong Mountain said, "At least a hundred thousand low-grade spirit stones, and who knows how much more I’ll need. You ought to think it over, my friend."

Lu Chang’sheng saw right through Zhong Mountain’s little schemes, but he just shook his head, "I’m not doing it that way. Don’t worry."

"Haha, you said it!" Zhong Mountain said excitedly.

These days he’d gotten together with a few buddies to analyze things, and finally admitted that what someone said back in the big hall actually made sense.

This Little Fire Cloud Beast just loves things related to the Alchemy Dao, and of all those folks from back then, Lu Chang’sheng was the strongest in alchemy.

The reason it didn’t pick Lu Chang’sheng was probably because his alchemy talent and spirit root talent weren’t good enough.

The Little Fire Cloud Beast likes the Alchemy Dao, but very likely also has the same vision as the other Fire Cloud Beasts—which means high standards for cultivation talent.

And on that point, Lu Chang’sheng just doesn’t measure up.

The elders and stewards all had top-grade D-level spirit root talent.

Foundation Establishment cultivators were basically all C-grade lower talent.

Lu Chang’sheng ignored Zhong Mountain’s smug look. Immortal Dao Spirit Root was definitely his weak spot, but maybe there was another way around that...?

Outside the hall, Zhong Mountain rushed right over to the Little Fire Cloud Beast’s hall, where he heard the voices of those who had tried to win it before.

Lu Chang’sheng followed him in, spotting the Little Fire Cloud Beast with its head raised, playing with fire in the air. Zhong Mountain plastered on what he thought was a friendly smile, pulled out a Fire Spirit Pill, and tossed it to the Little Fire Cloud Beast.

All the while, he kept bragging, "Little Ancestor, you join me and I’ll treat you like royalty! I’ll run around serving you every day—you eat the meat, I drink the soup. If you get tired, I’ll give you a massage!"

The Beast Institute cultivators nearby were all struggling not to show their reactions.

Trying so hard to hold it in······